Cette série de conversations en anglais suit une famille qui part en voyage aux États-Unis. Allez avec elle à la découverte des passe-temps et de l’histoire associés aux lieux qu’elle visite. Ces conversations s’adressent à des personnes ayant un niveau d’anglais intermédiaire, voire plus avancé.
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Dans cette conversation, la famille est en train de planifier un voyage à Gettysburg, en Pennsylvanie, une ville importante dans l’histoire de la guerre de Sécession.
Cliquez sur le lien audio et écoutez la conversation tout en la lisant ci-dessous. Les mots importants sont expliqués à la fin, en anglais, de façon à favoriser une immersion totale dans la langue. Certains sont suivis d’une brève traduction ou explication en français.
Paul: I know that you want to go to Philadelphia, but first we’re going to spend some time in Gettysburg. It’s an important historical place.
Gina: Absolutely. The U.S. might be different today if the Confederate States Army had won the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War.
Claudine: Why was that battle so important?
Paul: It was a turning point in the war. The Confederate Army tried to invade the North, but the Union Army won the battle. The Confederate Army retreated.
Gina: And shortly after the Union won the battle, President Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address.
Paul: And in his speech, he reminded people of the Founding Fathers’ idea that “all men are created equal.”
Claudine: I believe that. All men and women deserve the same freedoms and rights. I think I’m going to like Gettysburg.
Un peu de vocabulaire
Gettysburg is an area in the state of Pennsylvania. It is the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the largest battles of the American Civil War.
A Confederate was a soldier or person who supported the Confederacy during the Civil War in the United States. The Confederacy (or The Confederate States of America) consisted of states in the southern region of the U.S. The Confederacy declared its secession (secession: the act of separating from a nation) from the U.S. following the election of President Lincoln. President Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery (and later ended slavery), which the Confederacy did not agree with. The U.S. government rejected the Confederacy’s secession. (Un confédéré, c’est-à-dire un soldat sudiste, à l’époque de la guerre de Sécession)
The Battle of Gettysburg was a three-day battle (July 1–3, 1863) during the American Civil War. It had the largest number of casualties (casualties: the people who are killed or injured) in the entire war. (La bataille de Gettysburg)
A turning point is a time when an important change takes place. (Un tournant décisif)
In a battle, to retreat is to move away from the opposing side. (Battre en retraite, se replier)
The American Civil War (or, simply the Civil War) was a war between the Confederacy (sometimes called the South) and the Union (sometimes called the North). The war was fought from 1861 to 1865 to decide if the Confederacy would become independent. After four years of fighting, the Confederacy lost and slavery was abolished (abolished: officially ended). (La guerre de Sécession/la Confédération/l’Union)
President Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He served from 1861 until he was killed in April 1865. Lincoln led the U.S. through the Civil War, abolished slavery in the U.S., and strengthened the government.
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Lincoln a few months after the Battle of Gettysburg. In his speech, he reminded the audience of the Founding Fathers’ ideas for the future. (Le discours de Gettysburg)
The Founding Fathers refers to some of the individuals of the first U.S. colonies who helped separate from the rule of the British government, leading to the formation of the United States. A few key Founding Fathers include Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. (Les Pères fondateurs des États-Unis)
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