Primary and Secondary Sources

Which of the following is an example of a primary source?

• A biography of Abraham Lincoln.

• A letter written by George Washington.

• A history textbook.

• A documentary about World War II.

Which of the following is NOT a primary source?

• A diary entry from a soldier in World War I.

• A letter from a Civil War general.

• A textbook on medieval history.

• A photograph from the 1960s.

What is a primary source?

• A document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.

• A document that interprets and analyzes primary sources.

• A textbook summarizing historical events.

• An encyclopedia entry.

Which of the following is an example of a secondary source?

• The Declaration of Independence.

• A newspaper article from 1776.

• A scholarly article analyzing the causes of the American Revolution.

• A photograph from the Civil War.

Which of the following is a secondary source?

• A speech given by Martin Luther King Jr.

• A journal article analyzing the impact of the Industrial Revolution.

• A painting from the Renaissance period.

• A government document from the 1800s.

Which of the following best defines a secondary source?

• An original document or object from the time period being studied.

• A source that provides direct evidence about an event.

• A source that interprets and analyzes primary sources.

• A diary entry from a historical figure.

Which of the following would be considered a primary source for studying ancient Egypt?

• A modern book about Egyptian pyramids.

• A documentary on the History Channel.

• An ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription.

• A website summarizing Egyptian history.

Which of the following would be considered a primary source for studying the American Civil War?

• A modern analysis of Civil War battles.

• A letter written by a soldier during the Civil War.

• A history book about the Civil War.

• A documentary on the Civil War.

Which of the following is an example of a primary source for studying the history of the Roman Empire?

• A modern book about Roman architecture.

• A documentary on Roman history.

• A Roman coin from the era.

• A scholarly article on Roman politics.