My understanding of primary sources and their importance to studying history is that without primary sources we wouldn’t know about firsthand events. There is so much to be learned from original accounts by historians. Yet the most dexterous person cannot duplicate the understandings that one can get from direct accounts. Primary sources are subconsciously shaped by the soul of the writer and the time period they were written. Every line in a historical document gives a hint of what time period the author lived in and makes an impression upon us in which several publications of second accounts can never produce the same effect. The facts come to us in a form in which we don’t forget it easily. The problem is that we don’t have enough
Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened and is hands on. Secondary
Smith used both primary sources and secondary sources. "According to the Ithaca College Library, a primary source provides direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art and a secondary source describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and process primary sources." Dr. Smith found his primary sources by researching historical documents, learn who existed in Prague, Oklahoma, and by going to Prague himself. To find his secondary sources, Dr. Smith looked at books about the history of Prague, Oklahoma, articles from newspapers and magazines, and by giving interviews. In Dr. Smith's book, it had more secondary sources than primary sources, so most of the information that was in Dr. Smith's book was from a secondary
Primary documents such as diaries and journals have a vast importance to historians. First-hand accounts are praised in the historian community due to the accuracy, inaccuracy, or even the hyperbole that are found in these wonderful documents. Lamentably some primary documents are factual and some are incorrect or different. For example, a report from a major general from the union may be different from a major general from the confederates. The challenge of trying to decide what actually happened over the course of a battle that took almost 10 days makes the task at hand more demanding. Conflicting reports during the battle of Wilmington between US General Alfred Howe Terry and Confederate Army General Braxton
This document is a primary sources document because this is an report of what’s actually happen during the event. In this case, it’s a report about south after the Civil war by Carl Schurz which he went to the south and report about how the people in the south is doing.
Using primary sources allowed me to put the document in perspective to what I had learned about Roanoke. It helped me organize everything into historical context. I value primary sources because they help me create my own judgment based on what was read. Reading the primary sources allowed me as the reader to get into character. To think about the feelings and thoughts about the person who wrote it.
To determine whether a book is a primary source or a secondary source, a person needs to know what a primary and secondary source is. First, a primary source, define by Princeton, “is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.” Also, “these sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. While a secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event.” (Primary vs Secondary) Next thing to consider is the background about the author and how he is involved with the story. Upton Sinclair was writing about a meat packing company and had a firsthand account of the terrible things that company did to the animals and the workers. Since Sinclair was there during that time and documented the experience of workers and their condition, his book would be declared a primary source. What Sinclair saw was his inspiration to write about his most famous and moving book, The Jungle. Upton Sinclair was not a famous writer until his release of the book and his book caused major reform in the food industry around the country.
Primary sources are used by people who have experienced specific events in their lives. They allow a reader to connect to them on a more relatable basis. Primary sources are also very reliable because the author of a book or newspaper article, for example, was actually there. So they have all the evidence they need for what is being documented. The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, is a primary source because Jurgis actually went through the hard labor conditions that occurred in the Progressive Era (1900-1916). The Jungle puts a face to the issues of grueling work hours, poor working conditions, unbearable living arrangements, exploitation of the poor, and uneducated working class. Issues of Industrial Democracy, child labor, and the minimum wage became so important to Americans during this period. This Era saw a change in some of the main reasons that controlled American individualism after the unrestrained years of the late 19th century; arguments over labor, social conflict, and unstable economy.
According to the Library of Illinois, “primary sources of information are those that provide first-hand accounts of the events, practices, or conditions you are researching.” There is no portion about reliability or the significance of truth within the explanation of a primary historical source. O’Brien’s recollection of his first-hand experience in the Vietnam war is a good primary source because highlights the collective consciousness of America during the war, the collective memory of the soldiers who fought, and the emotional things they had to carry with them through the remainder of their lives.
Within the realm of history, a source of evidence is essential in order to differentiate the fact from fiction. This is why a primary source is so vital! Because, a primary source provides the reader with direct evidence of an event or a speech; giving them a better understanding of the material. The only problem is: these sources do not provide the full facts, leaving the readers with a plethora of questions. Don’t get me wrong though, the readers should be asking a lot of questions! Because, with all of those questions, the reader can be engaged with the content in order to find some concrete evidence.
From the experience that I have achieved historians surely need multiple sources in order to gain their information. The reasons for this is because, first of all, in order to obtain more accurate information they need to use more than one source. This is because if you read from multiple sources you get a clearer image of the topic. For example, if I just read from one source that Christopher Columbus discovered America I wouldn’t have known that his objective was to sail west and reach the India. Without that information I also wouldn’t have known why the native people of America are called Indians. Another example of why if you read from multiple sources you get a clearer image is because if you read from multiple sources there is a much less chance that the facts you read are true and not false. For example, historians need multiple sources so they don’t make the mistake of recording the wrong dates like how they found out that Tang blue and white pottery shards were not discovered until 1985. This can prove to be a fatal mistake because accurate dates help to better understand the people of the past’s life styles and resources. Historians also need multiple resources in order to gain more information. For example, if I had just used one source to understand how the Mongols should be remembered I wouldn’t have been able to gain enough information in order to understand in order to go in depth of how they should be remembered. So, instead of using just one source to
From the first day this year we learned about two different kinds of sources, primary and secondary this standard helped me because I know now the different difference between an image or document you want to use primary source is something that was made in the time here they 're made by someone who 's there during the time the secondary sources something that was not made in the time, or by someone in the time. This standard was a big part of our Native American images in the article story/facts. Another time this standard was used during was during our tiki toki timeline information and images. This is very important to have different perspectives on topics because it is easier to imagine what actually happened. While keeping in mind during my studies for any kind of historical figure I wanted more than just that person 's view, like maybe their wife, kids,mom, father, friend, etc. Native American studies using perspectives of other people really helped me to see through their eyes. For example, in my tribe I used our tribe 's chief as one of the perspectives. It showed what really happened between them and the white to during manifest destiny. For example, when we had to research about the different battles of our tribe, mine being the Cherokee, it really was much better for me to see what had happened through others perspectives. In one of our bigger battles the battle of horseshoe bend, it helped to see
The best historians are the ones who write the strongest arguments. To make strong arguments, it's very important to use strong sources. Sources are either primary or secondary. The primary sources are the original ones, which date back to the events of that time period. Secondary sources are the arguments of other historians or anything that talks about primary sources. Choosing the best sources means understanding what the source is saying and using accurate information to make your own argument.
Primary information is data which is found first-hand and can be collected via questionnaires, surveys, and interviews/focus sessions. Primary information is more dependable on rather than Secondary
A primary source analysis is used to represent one of the most important jobs of an historian. By the analyses of the primary source one is able to examine firsthand information from all the possible areas of an event person or object. There are a couple of primary sources in “The Rise of Western Power: A Comparative History of Western Civilization by Jonathan Daly. In this case we are going to explain how these sources relate to the western civilization and their importance to the understanding of the European history and the world history in general. First and foremost, we take a look at the letter to Heliodors from St Jerome in (347-420 ad).
With our history, perspective is key. When reading about a certain speech or event it is important to make sure you have a reliable source. Sometimes primary sources are scarce, so secondary sources will be needed. Sometimes the sources can clash with each other, making it hard to tell what is true and not. Different perspectives of historic events can dampen understanding of the true message given when personal bias and dim perspectives are applied. Our history is being influenced by secondary sources rather than the real message of the primary source.