Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources

What defines a primary source?

• A fictional story about a historical event

• A firsthand account or material from the time of the event

• A document created after a historical event

• A summary written by a historian

Why is an interview with a civil rights activist considered a primary source?

• Because it was conducted by a famous journalist

• Because it was published in a history book

• Because the interviewee was a firsthand participant in the movement

• Because it was recorded during the civil rights movement

What is a key characteristic of secondary sources?

• They are created by participants of the event

• They are always fictional accounts

• They are created after the event by someone not directly involved

• They are only available in digital format

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

• A book analyzing the civil rights movement published in 1990

• A newspaper article from the time of the event

• A photograph taken during a historical event

• A letter written by a civil rights leader

Why is a photocopy of a historical newspaper still considered a primary source?

• Because it is a copy of a secondary source

• Because it contains firsthand information from the time of the event

• Because it was published in a book

• Because it was written by a historian