Primary Sources
What is a primary source?
Answer: A source created by someone who experienced or witnessed an event, or created during the time being studied.
What is a secondary source?
Answer: A source that explains, describes, or analyzes an event using information gathered from other sources.
A person writes in a diary about what happened at school today. What type of source is it?
Answer: Primary source.
What does point of view mean when studying history?
Answer: The way a person sees or understands an event based on their experiences and beliefs.
What is the name of the largest ocean on Earth?
Pacific
Name one example of a primary source.
Answer: Possible answers: a diary, letter, photograph, artifact, speech, or eyewitness account.
Name one example of a secondary source.
Answer: Possible answers: a history textbook, a documentary made later, an encyclopedia article, or a historical analysis.
A history textbook describes the causes of World War II. What type of source is it?
Answer: Secondary source.
What is bias?
Answer: A preference or opinion that can influence how someone presents information.
What type of government allows citizens to participate in making decisions, often by voting?
Democracy
A soldier writes a letter home describing a battle he fought in. Is this a primary or secondary source?
Answer: A primary source because the soldier experienced the event firsthand.
A historian writes a book about the Civil War using letters, photographs, and records. Is the book primary or secondary?
Answer: A secondary source because the historian is analyzing evidence about the event.
A photograph taken during the Great Depression shows a family's living conditions. What type of source is it?
Answer: Primary source.
Why might two eyewitnesses describe the same battle differently?
Answer: They may have seen different things or had different experiences, beliefs, or feelings.
Which ancient civilization built the pyramids at Giza?
Ancient Egyptians
Why might an original law or government document be considered a primary source?
Answer: It was created at the time and provides direct evidence of a law or government action.
How can a documentary made many years after an event be a secondary source?
Answer: It may use interviews, research, and historical evidence to explain or interpret the event.
A newspaper published during a major historical event reports what happened that day. Is it a primary or secondary source?
Answer: It can be a primary source because it was created at the time of the event. Its content and purpose still matter.
What does it mean for a historical source to be reliable?
Answer: It provides information that is trustworthy and supported by evidence, though it may still have limitations.
What are the three branches of the United States federal government?
Legislative, executive, and judicial.
A student finds a diary written by a person who lived during the American Revolution. Why is this a valuable primary source?
Answer: It provides a firsthand account of what someone experienced, thought, or felt during that time.
A student reads a textbook chapter that explains why the Roman Empire declined. Why is this usually a secondary source?
Answer: It interprets and explains past events rather than being a firsthand record created during those events.
A modern museum exhibit uses original artifacts and a historian's explanations to teach about ancient Egypt. Is the entire exhibit primary or secondary?
Answer: Generally, the exhibit is a secondary source because it interprets history. The original artifacts displayed within it are primary sources.
One account says a king was a hero, while another calls him a cruel ruler. What should a historian do before deciding what to believe?
Answer: Compare both accounts with other sources, examine each author's point of view and possible bias, and look for supporting evidence.
What is one major difference between a primary source and a secondary source?
Answer: A primary source provides direct evidence from a person or time being studied, while a secondary source explains or analyzes that evidence.