What Is a Primary Source 4 Slavery 6 Slave Labor in the South 8 Growing Tensions 10 In Defense of Freedom 12 Slave States and Free States 14 A Nation at War with Itself 16 Drafting the Emancipation Proclamation 18 A Cause Worth Fighting For 20 How the World Saw the War 22 Joining the Ranks 24 A Long Road to Equality 26 Forever Free 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 CONTENTS
WHAT IS A PRIMARY SOURCE How do people learn about the past Students of history may examine both primary and secondary sources A primary source is a record of a historical event made by someone who lived during that time Official documents recordings memoirs weather reports and photographs all offer firsthand evidence of the past A primary source may also be an artifact such as a piece of clothing or pottery This photograph of the March on Washington a 1963 protest for racial equality is a primary source 4
A secondary source such as a textbook was created at a later time by someone who was not present at the time of the event Secondary sources are often based on information gathered from primary sources One person’s experience of an event may be very different from another’s Primary sources reflect these individual points of view and perspectives Studying primary sources lets students and historians reach their own conclusions about the meaning of the past Studying a primary source can make history come alive How is a primary source different from a secondary source How are they similar Compare and Contrast 5
