Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Front

What is a primary source?

Back

A primary source is an original document or firsthand account created at the time of an event. Examples include diaries, photographs, and official documents.

Front

What is a secondary source?

Back

A secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources. Examples include textbooks, articles, and documentaries.

Front

Identify the source type: A journal by a cowboy about the cattle drives from Texas to Kansas.

Back

PRIMARY

Front

Identify the source type: A cartoon showing how Pocahontas met John Smith.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Identify the source type: A YouTube video describing how the pyramids were built.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Identify the source type: A book describing Christopher Columbus sailing to America.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Identify the source type: A famous artist's painting of what cowboy life was probably like.

Back

SECONDARY

Front

Why are primary sources important in history?

Back

Primary sources provide direct evidence and firsthand accounts of historical events, allowing us to understand the past more accurately.

Front

Why are secondary sources useful?

Back

Secondary sources help us interpret and analyze primary sources, providing context and broader understanding of historical events.

Front

Give an example of a primary source related to World War II.

Back

A soldier's diary written during World War II.