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How Do We Know What We Know About The Past?

Historical Detectives

Historical Detectives

You might think of historians as people who read a lot of books and know random facts from the past.

BUT, historians are more like detectives. This year, we will use clues to find out what happened in the past, and what those clues tell us about people who can no longer speak for themselves.

Let's begin!

Tools of a Historian

  • Timelines
  • Charts and graphs
  • Artifacts
  • Primary and secondary sources

What Is A Primary Source?

Primary Sources

Primary sources = original documents and objects created at the time period you are studying.

Examples:

  • Letters, diaries, journals
  • Original photographs
  • Speeches, autobiographies, memoirs

1

Is the diary that Anne Frank wrote her personal thoughts in during WWII a primary source? Why or why not?

2

Is a world geography textbook a primary source? Why or why not?

3

Is President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech declaring war on Japan in 1941 a primary source? Why or why not?

What Is A Secondary Source?

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources = documents written after an event has occurred

Examples:

  • Textbooks
  • Biographies
  • Encyclopedias

1

Is this biography of William Shakespeare written in 2004 a secondary source? Why or why not?

We Must Look at Multiple Perspectives

Multiple Perspectives

  • After examining one source, ask where else you could look to learn more about this topic/event.

  • Then, compare and contrast the sources.

As we go through the school year, be sure to consider the following:

Are the sources/evidence reliable?

Is there bias?

What information is missing that would help us get a better picture of the past?

Questions to Consider

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