人教高中英语高二下UNIT14-4

                                             THE FIRST REPUBLIC OF FREE BLACK PEOPLE
         Discovered by Columbus in 1492, the island, or at least the western part of it now known as Haiti, was the scene of some of the most advanced political developments in the Western world in the late eighteenth century. From 1763 to 1791 the island had its Golden Age. As its richest colony¹, the island contributed more than 40% to the economy of France. Its success rested on the labour of half a million slaves.
         In 1772, slavery was abolished² in England, which started a large public opinion movement. The news soon spread the world over and gave slaves in many countries hope. On the 14th of July, 1789, the citizens of Paris started the French Revolution, but the slaves in the French colonies³ were disappointed that slavery was not abolished. Coloured people were also angry, because they were not recognised as full citizens. They were still subject to a number of discriminating⁴ laws regarding⁵ choice of jobs, dress, and where they could sit in public places. So despite the French Revolution, they were not given the same rights as white people.
         On 22 of August 1791 a revolution broke out among the slaves and lower classes. Hundreds of miles of fields and crops went up in flames. The event is known as the "Night of Fire".
         In order to continue the revolution, the slaves needed a leader. Toussaint L'Ouverture grew up as a slave. As Toussaint proved to be very intelligent, his owner, who was a good man, gave him the opportunity to learn to read and study, and in the end made him a free man. At the time of the Night of Fire, Toussaint was already 48 years old and he had a good life. He did not take part in the revolution. Instead, he saved the family of his former owner and helped them to leave the country. After that, he joined the slaves in their struggle for freedom, and soon became their leader.
        On April 4, 1792, the French government in Paris signed a law giving all people of colour and all free black people the same political fights as the white people in France. Toussaint quickly recognized that the new law did not improve the situation of the slaves. So he decided⁶ to continue the fight for the rights of the black slaves.
        With Toussaint as their leader, the black army defeated both the Spanish and the French armies. In 1801 they created an independent republic with Toussaint as their first president. The new society was different from the old. Black people were no longer slaves, but became free workers, who worked normal hours and were paid for all labour. Men who had once been slaves now held the highest positions in the country. The revolution had created a new, proud and confident race of men.
        Toussaint proved not only to be a great freedom fighter and soldier, but also a great statesman⁷. He built up the state and the country, repairing roads, opening schools and restoring⁸ agriculture all over the island. He even built a monument to remember that slavery was abolished.               

1 colony   

n.殖民地；(同类人的)聚居地

参考例句：

• There lived a colony of bees on the tree.树上生活着一群蜜蜂。
• They live in an artists'colony.他们住在艺术家聚居区。

2 abolished   

adj.[法]废除的v.废除，废止( abolish的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• This tax should be abolished. 这种税应该取消。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 colonies   

n.殖民地( colony的名词复数 )；（侨民等）聚居区；（动植物的）群体；（来自同一地方，职业或兴趣相同的）聚居人群

参考例句：

• They amassed huge wealth by plundering the colonies. 他们通过掠夺殖民地聚敛了大笔的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• But throughout the colonies, people relied primarily on small farms and self-sufficiency. 但就整个殖民地来说，人们主要依靠小型农场，过着自给自足的生活。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

5 regarding   

prep.关于，至于；就…而论，在…方面

参考例句：

• Regarding John,I will write to him at once.至于约翰，我将立即给他写信。
• Regarding these facts,a special committee is to be appointed.鉴于这些事实，必须成立一个专门委员会。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 statesman   

n.国务活动家，政治家

参考例句：

• Friends gathered at a memorial for the late statesman.这位已故政治家的生前好友为他举行了纪念仪式。
• The statesman is much occupied with affairs of state.那个政治家忙于国事。

8 restoring   

v.归还( restore的现在分词 )；交还；使恢复；修复

参考例句：

• Morris intended to foster an art restoring the dignity of the craftsman. 莫里斯的目的在于扶植一种能恢复手工艺工人威望的艺术。 来自辞典例句
• She was aware of Peter McDermott's calm, restoring voice once more. 她又一次注意到彼得·麦克德莫特的平静而使人宽慰的声音。 来自辞典例句