Primary vs. Secondary Sources Flashcard

Front

What is a primary source?

Back

A primary source is a document or physical object created during the time under study, providing direct evidence or firsthand accounts of an event.

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What is a secondary source?

Back

A secondary source is a document or recording that relates or discusses information originally presented elsewhere, often created by someone who did not experience the event.

Front

Give an example of a primary source.

Back

A diary written by a soldier during the Civil War.

Front

Give an example of a secondary source.

Back

A textbook that summarizes the events of the Civil War.

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What type of source is a newspaper article written at the time of an event?

Back

Primary source.

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What type of source is a biography written about a historical figure?

Back

Secondary source.

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Why are primary sources important in history?

Back

They provide direct evidence and firsthand accounts, allowing us to understand events from the perspective of those who lived through them.

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Why are secondary sources useful?

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They help us interpret and analyze primary sources, providing context and summaries of events.

Front

What is an example of a primary source related to a famous speech?

Back

The original transcript of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech.

Front

What is an example of a secondary source related to a famous speech?

Back

A book analyzing the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech.