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Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.
下面是一篇反映美國理想和風俗的社論。
Today, the United States of America celebrates its birthday.
今天，美利堅合眾國慶祝它的生日。
It is a commemoration of the day in 1776 when representatives of the 13 British colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, a separation from Great Britain.
這正是為了紀念在1776年，13個英屬殖民地的代表籤署獨立宣言的那一天。
That was the official beginning of the seven-year War for American Independence.
這標誌著為期七年的美國獨立戰爭正式開始。
But one of the most significant events of the conflict took place more than a year earlier, on April 18, 1775,
但是這場戰爭中最重要的事件之一發生在一年多以前的1775年4月18日，
during the first armed engagement between British troops and American militiamen in Massachusetts.
其間，英國軍隊和美國民兵在麻薩諸塞州爆發第一次武裝交戰。
The first shot fired in the skirmish became known as the Shot Heard Around the World,
這場小規模衝突打響了獨立戰爭的第一槍，被譽為「震驚世界的槍聲」，
because it presaged the monumental changes that would result from the Americans』 successful campaign to separate from what at the time was the world’s preeminent super power.
因為它預示著一場成功的戰役，使美國從當時的世界超級大國中獨立出來，致使美國發生翻天覆地的變化。
In the aftermath of the revolution, liberal ideals that characterized the Enlightenment became the official norm of American political culture.
革命結束後，啟蒙運動時期的自由主義理想成為美國政治文化的正式規範。
This included the disestablishment of the Anglican church, the idea of individual freedom, which quickly became widely accepted throughout the former colonies,
自由主義理想包括廢除聖公會，個人自由的觀念，這兩點在整個前殖民地被快速並廣泛地接受，
and the notion that advancement should be determined by merit, not birth-right.
還包括晉升應該由功績決定，而不是靠出生權利。
Most importantly, the relationship between the government and the governed changed.
最重要的是，政府和被統治者之間的關係發生了變化。
The top-down government headed by a hereditary ruling class was replaced by the principle of elected national and state executives.
通過選舉產生國家和州行政長官的原則取代了由世襲統治階級領導的自上而下的政府。
Common citizens played increasingly important roles in local and state governance,
普通公民在地方和國家治理中發揮著愈加重要的作用，
and as more people gained the right to vote, political participation increased.
隨著越來越多的人獲得選舉權，政治參與度也在增加。
Europe took note.
歐洲注意到了這一點。
While Monarchists waited for the new country to fail, thus undermining the idea of Republicanism,
當君主主義者們等待著這個新成立的國家失敗，從而破壞共和主義的思想時，
anti-monarchists saw that the American Revolution not only proved that oppressive governments could be overthrown, but that ordinary men could, and should, participate in governance.
反君主主義者發現，美國革命不僅證明了壓迫性政府可以被推翻，而且普通人可以，並且應該參與治理。
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that 「all men are created equal」.
託馬斯·傑斐遜在《獨立宣言》中寫道：「人人生而平等」。
These words galvanized democratic and independence movements in the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, and Haiti, and around the globe.
這些話激起了荷蘭、比利時、愛爾蘭、波蘭、海地以及全球各地的民主和獨立運動。
The phrase appeared in The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of the French Revolution.
這句話出現在法國大革命的《人權和公民權利宣言》中。
And in the 19th century, they inspired leaders such as Simon Bolivar, leading to successful uprisings against colonial powers in Latin American.
在19世紀，他們鼓舞了西蒙·玻利瓦爾等領導人，導致拉丁美洲反抗殖民勢力的成功起義。
Over two hundred years ago, Marquis de Lafayette, one of the heroes of the American Revolution, said that 「Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country.」
兩百多年前，美國獨立戰爭的英雄人物之一拉斐特侯爵曾說過：「人類已經贏得了戰爭的勝利。我們現在擁有自由的國家」
But the implications of the American Revolution were global and continue to resound to this day.
但美國革命的影響是全球性的，並持續至今。
That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions.
這是一篇反映美國理想和風俗的社論。