【正文】 mpted to impose their ideas on the established English church at the Hampton Court Conference. The result was mutual disaffection and a persecution of the Puritans, particularly by Archbishop William Laud, that brought about Puritan migration to Europe and America. They hoped to look for freedom and a new world. So when the Europeans on the May Flower stepped on this land, which had no national sentiment that should formed during a long time, the personal interests have been considered much important than anything else. It is a rule to protect one’s own interests in a strange place. However, in China, which has a long history of more than 5,000 years, the cultural origins could date back to the primitive society, when Shanding cave people lived and worked together the interests of the collective were sure to be much higher than personal interests were. Therefore, under the influence of the collective the personal interests, which could be considered as individualism, are much looked down upon. The vice influence of individualism is certainly exists, but it’s positive and reasonable side make America develop to be a powerful country in only 200 years. Though collective interest is above everything, extremely denying the individualism is also not an objective and just way. In China, the positive side of individualism could still play a favorable role. Recently as so many people ignored the good aspect of individualism, right recognitions should be emphasized again. Individualism is a phenomenon with great cultural characteristics, and it cannot be justified only with right or wrong. It should be justified objectively and justly. Only after right recognitions have been accepted, China could gain a brandnew way to develop it and Chinese people could also build up their confidence and promote the reliance of their selfworth.Ⅰ. Individualism in AmericaA. The Origin of IndividualismAs to the origin of individualism, different scholars have different recognitions. The concept of individual of Americans rooted in the philosophy in 17th century represented by British philosopher Lock. Lock claimed that the basic unit of the nature is individual, and he presumed that all the individuals fought for their own interests. Individualism firstly appeared in the French Revolution, which created by SaintSimon camp to express situation of the people in the 19th century, that is rootless, idealess and faithless, and their merciless petition and exploitation. Nevertheless, the much suitable recognition is Renaissance and reformation. Since Renaissance, the attitude towards liberalism has begun to form. The main construction for the liberalism given by Renaissance is humanism and the individualism. When the writer, the artist and the thinker talk about human, they refer to the individual more and more. If Renaissance is the beginning of individualism, the reformation prompts the further development of individualism. In western world, religious play an important role of the individualism’s formation. God create human and give the soul to everyone that means He also gives people the meaning of existence and the basic right. Early Reformation affirmed the conscience and judgment of individual, and widened the way for the development of individualism. In addition, the prosecution to the puritans caused them to seek for freedom, independence and democracy in the new land, America. Therefore, immigrants of Europe brought their new thinking, which formed after the Reformation to America, and in this new land, this kind of new thinking began to develop to democracy and individualism. Quite different from the European countries, Feudalism never deeply rooted in America, so during the long history of social practice in America, individualism acquired a definition different from selfish. Future more, the appearance of individualism has nothing to do with somebody or something but with the development of capitalism country, and the rule of Bourgeois morality。 the reflection of private ownership of the means of production in people’ awareness and a kind of cultural phenomenon.B. The Influence of Individualism on American SocietyDuring the prosperous development of capitalism, individualism played a very important role in fighting against Feudal asceticism, Autocracy and religious rule. Therefore, in America, individualism developed to a quite active direction, and showed a positive influence. In the process of transplant form Europe to America, individualism also pletes the transformation from negative to positive。 from young to mature and from theory to practice. Individualism’s success in America shows that the acceptance of individualism in America has something to do with the freedom, the equality and the chance of a society.As we all known, America is a country which quite advocates the law and the system, and American people have a great belief to them. The United States Constitution and the Law provide that the power of the government is from the people and belongs to the people。 the power of government is not absolute but restricted by the law. The Declaration of Independence plays a very important role in American history。 it emphasizes, “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Therefore, after the law admitted the individual right, the Americans found the basis to realize their selfworth.There are mainly tow kinds of influences of individualism towards America.First, the slogan of individualism “freedom and equality” really bees the Great Spirit that inspire, educate and mobilize all the people. Individualism helps America a lot both in the early development and in the Independent War. American people conquer the nature, and develop their national border with the strength of individualism, and they create a great number