VOA慢速英语:Tense Relations with England Erupt into War of 1812 - James Madison Part 1 - Program No. 36

短语讲解：

1. He had to deal with a foreign policy problem that the former president, Thomas Jefferson, was not able to solve: increasingly tense relations with Britain.

deal with 处理
例句：Can you deal with the money part?
你能处理钱的部分吗？

2. He says Madison took office under difficult circumstances.

take office 就职
例句：The new president will take office in january.
新总统将于1月就职。

3. But Erskine did not make clear that the British government demanded several conditions.

make clear 弄清楚
例句：Make clear whether the reasons for non-delivery on time.
先弄清不按时发货的原因.

4. He finally broke off all communications, and Erskine and his replacement left Washington.

break off 使）分离；（使）脱离
例句：We may break off relations with that country.
我们有可能和那个国家断绝关系。

5. The treaties explained which land belonged to the Indians and which land could be settled by white people.

belong to 属于
例句：They don't belong to anybody.
那些信息不属于任何人。

6. In other words, they wanted to keep the Indians on a kind of retainer in the eventuality that war did happen, they would want to mobilize those Indians.

in other words 换句话说
例句：In other words, you have broken the law.
换言之，你违法了。

7. They were less willing to compromise, and more willing to defend America's interests. They soon got the name "War Hawks."

be willing to 乐于；甘于
例句：Be willing to listen, but don't be fooled.
乐于倾听，但是不要被愚弄了。

8. Lawmakers voted to increase the size of the army and to borrow money to pay for things the larger army would need.

pay for 赔偿
例句：I'm afraid you have to pay for it.
恐怕你得赔偿了。

9. The orders might have been withdrawn earlier, except for a number of events.

except for 除…之外；若不是
例句：No one can finish the mileage except for you.
除了你没人能跑完这个里程。
a number of 许多的；一些
例句：There are a number of techniques.
有一些技术是可以做到的。

10. If the United States had had a minister in London during the spring of 1812, the diplomat would have been able to report progress toward ending the orders.

be able to 能，会
例句：We hope you'll be able to attend.
我们希望你能够前来参加。