In several U.S. states and communities, debates are flaring over what to do about Confederate monuments and statues in public areas. 美國多個州和社區(qū)就應該如何處理公共區(qū)域的南方聯(lián)邦紀念像展開討論，目前討論日趨激烈。
Last weekend's protest and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, 上周末，弗吉尼亞州夏洛茨維爾市爆發(fā)抗議和暴力事件，
followed a city council decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a public park. 因為此前該市議會決定拆除位于公園內的南方聯(lián)邦將軍羅伯特·李的雕像。
The history behind these controversies goes back to the U.S. Civil War, 這些爭議事件背后的歷史問題要追溯至美國內戰(zhàn)時期，
which raged between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865. 美國內戰(zhàn)從1861年持續(xù)至1865年，參戰(zhàn)雙方為北方美利堅合眾國和南方的美利堅聯(lián)盟國。
A number of complex issues led to it. 多個復雜問題導致內戰(zhàn)爆發(fā)。
The authority of the federal government, economic differences, states rights, all factored in. 聯(lián)邦政府的權力、經濟差異、州權利等都是導火索。
Slavery was a major issue. 奴隸制是主要問題。
Confederate states where slavery was legal also wanted it to be legal in future states, as the U.S. population grew and moved west. 在南部聯(lián)邦，奴隸制是合法的，而且他們希望隨著美國人口不斷增長并向南部遷移，以后奴隸制依然處于合法狀態(tài)。
A few Union states also allowed slavery at the start of the war, 在戰(zhàn)爭開始階段，一些北方聯(lián)邦也允許奴隸制的存在，
but the Union did not want it to be allowed in the Western territories. 但是他們不希望西部領土存在奴隸制。
And in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery altogether in Southern states. 1963年，亞伯拉罕·林肯總統(tǒng)廢除了南部聯(lián)邦的奴隸制。
Of course, the Union ultimately won the war. Slavery was abolished nationwide after the conflict ended. 當然，北方聯(lián)邦最終贏得了內戰(zhàn)。沖突結束以后，美國徹底廢除奴隸制。
And today, many Americans who want Confederate statues removed from U.S. parks and landmarks 現(xiàn)在，許多美國人希望拆除位于美國各公園和地標處的南部聯(lián)邦紀念像，
see these statues as symbols of slavery and racism, 因為他們認為這些雕像是奴隸制和種族主義的象征，
while many who support keeping the statues, including U.S. President Donald Trump, 而希望保留這些雕像的人包括美國總統(tǒng)唐納德·特朗普，
see them as symbols of American history and heritage. 他們認為這些雕像是美國歷史和遺產的象征。
There are estimated to be around 1,500 Confederate symbols on U.S. public land today. 據估計，目前美國公共區(qū)域有約1500座南部聯(lián)邦雕像。
They can be found in 31 states across the country. 這些雕像遍布全美31個州。
Schools, parks and other public works are named for Confederate generals. 還有以南部聯(lián)邦將軍命名的學校、公園和其他公共工程。
Most of the statues and symbols exist in the Southern U.S., 大部分雕像和象征位于美國南部地區(qū)，
though they can be found as far north as Massachusetts and as far west as California. 不過北至馬薩諸塞州和西至加利福尼亞州也能看到這類雕像。
