Primary Sources in Social Studies The Civil War Ends
What is a primary source? An original document or the description of an event or time period by a person who witnessed it or lived at the time.
Examples of Primary Sources an eyewitness account a description, written at the time artwork or photographs of an event legal documents business records an original sound recording
An eyewitness account of an event newspaper or magazine stories autobiographies photographs artwork depicting the event
Who were the key figures?
President Abraham Lincoln Brady Collection, 1864
Jefferson Davis, President, C.S.A. 1865
General Ulysses S. Grant 1865
General Robert E. Lee. C.S.A. [between 1860 and 1865]
Where did the surrender take place?
Appomattox Court House, Virginia 1865
McLean House, Where Lee signed Capitulation papers, ca. 1865
A first hand account of an historical period letters and manuscripts personal journals and diaries autobiographies interviews
April 9th Genl Lee has surrendered to Genl Grant with his whole Army!! Mr Lincoln has returned to Washington as in fine Spirits at the prospect of a speedy peace. It is thought that Johnson and the other rebel Genls will give up now that Lee has surrendered. Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft April 9,1865
Something written or created around the time of the event legal documents (wills, property, birth and death records) business and accounts records (contracts) newspaper or magazine articles
First Announcement of Lee’s Surrender Philadelphia, April 9th, 1865
The true peace commissioners Lithograph, 1864
Jefferson Davis Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, 1861
A sound recording from a specific time a recording of a speech a recorded interview recorded music
What is a secondary source? An account (or artwork) created by someone who was not present at the time. The writer or artist researched the event and then wrote about it. The information might be based on several sources (primary and secondary).
Examples of Secondary Sources nonfiction information books reference book articles (encyclopedias) biographies textbooks artwork that depicts an historical event that happened long ago
Why are primary sources important? They help us to better understand the event or time period. They allow us to see an individual’s response to an event or time (different perspectives). They bring history alive.
Are primary sources objective? Primary sources are not always objective. They may be subjective and sometimes biased. They might describe someone’s personal feelings about an event or time in history.
Where can we find primary sources? On the internet: Library of Congress digital collections: documents, photographs, manuscripts, artwork sound recordings In libraries: Published journals, diaries, autobiographies
Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (Washington, D.C.), photographer. (1864). Abraham Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait, standing, facing left. Library of Congress: American Memory, Selected Civil War Photographs. Brady, M. B. (1861). Jefferson Davis, first president of the new Southern Confederacy / photographed by Brady. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand. Cameron, J. (1864). The true peace commissioners. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Cartoon Prints, American . Gutekunst, F. (1865). Ulysses S. Grant, Lieutenant-General, U.S.A. / F. Gutekunst, [...] Philada. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs. Kilburn Brothers (ca. 1865). House where Gen Lee signed Capitulation papers. [Stereograph]. Library of Congress: American Memory, American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 - 1940. Library of Congress. (n.d.). Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Library of Congress: American Memory, Washington During the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865.
O'Sullivan, T. H. (1865). [Appomattox Court House, Va. Federal soldiers at the courthouse]. Library of Congress: American Memory, Selected Civil War Photographs. Unknown. (1855-1865). Jefferson Davis. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Brady Handy Collection. Unknown. (1860-1865). Gen. Robert E. Lee, C.S.A. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Civil War Photographs . Unknown. (1865). Extra. Surrender of Lee and 30,000 men. Peace in 6 days. [Philadelphia, April 9th, 1865]. . Library of Congress: American Memory, An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera.