自由人的家園
When one thinks of the Fourth of July, images of Americans celebrating with barbecues, beer and fireworks will likely come to mind.
每當想到7月4日，腦中可能會出現美國人烤肉、喝啤酒以及放煙火歡慶的畫面。
celebrate(v.)慶祝come to (one’s) mind=令人想起;聯想到
However, the tradition of celebrating July 4, also known as Independence Day, goes far back in American history—back to the American Revolution.
不過，慶祝7月4日（亦即美國獨立日）的傳統最早可追溯至美國獨立革命時。
tradition(n.)傳統independence(n.)獨立go back to=追溯至…revolution(n.)革命
The first battles of the American Revolution began in April 1775.
第一次的美國獨立革命戰爭始於1775年4月。
battle(n.)戰爭;戰鬥
In the beginning, few American colonists wanted complete independence from Great Britain.
起初只有一小部分殖民地居民想脫離大英帝國獨立。
colony(n.)殖民地colonist(n.)殖民地居民colonize(v.)殖民
By mid-1776, more Americans were favoring independence due to a number of growing beliefs.
到了1776年年中，有越來越多美國人因民主意識抬頭而支持獨立。
favor(v.)支持;贊同belief(n.)信念;信仰;看法
One belief was that a government should serve its people, and the British monarchy system failed at that.
他們認為政府應為人民服務，而英國君主制度未能做到這點。
monarchy(n.)君主制monarch(n.)君主
Another belief was that America was the home of the free; people came to America to escape oppression, yet Britain was a direct source of oppression.
他們也認為美國是自由人的家園，人們為逃離壓迫來到美國，而壓迫美國人的正是大英帝國。
the free=自由人the rich=有錢人the poor=窮人escape(v.)逃離oppression(n.)(政治)壓制;壓迫
On June 7, 1776, the government of America’s 13 colonies debated the idea of independence from Britain.
在1776年6月7日，北美13個殖民地針對脫離大英帝國統治議題辯論，
debate(n.)(v.)辯論
They postponed the decision to July 2, and the vote unanimously favored America’s independence.
延後至7月2日作出正式決定，投票結果一致贊成美國獨立。
postpone(v.)延後=delay=put offunanimously(adv.)意見一致地;一致通過地
On July 4, the American government officially adopted the Declaration of Independence.
在7月4日當天，美國政府正式通過《獨立宣言》。
officially(adv.)正式地adopt(v.)採用;採納