Introduction to the text.pptx

Introduction to the textAfter Twenty Years The Author William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer. O. Henrys short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clevertwist endings such as The Gift of Magi,The Last Leave and so on. The Background the Homestead Act Western people in the 1870s In 1862, U.S. President Lincoln stated in the Homestead Act that any citizen pay only $15 for a certificate and they can get a piece of land of 160 acres in the western United States.After cropping five years in the land continuously,they can become the owner of the land.The measure solves the problem of land left by the war of independence and stimulated the Americans’ great enthusiasm.Although people do some cruel things such as abusing, killing and robbery to Indians whose home was invaded by them,some of the western people made their fortune while the others suffered from the harsh environment,as we can see in the western literary works. But maybe for the reason that it is far away from the city, the western people has not yet been infected with bad urban habits like intriguing.Or maybe another reason that they to deal with the evil of the natural environment they have no time to do these bad things. the stamp in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Homestead Act In the 1820s,with the rapid development of capitalism,the g ap between the rich and the poor had beenenlarged and the unemployment rose steeply,which cause sharp social contradictions.The general public had doubts and disappointment on the so-called democratic society of the United States. They used to fight against the slavery, and they once believed that the United States without slavery was the most advanced democracy in the world. But in fact, the United States not only did not become the paradise full of democracy, freedom and happiness for everyone, but also had formed one of the worl