PROS & CONS OF
HISTORY
SO, WHAT IS HISTORY
 History is the study of the past BUT so is archeology so what
sets history apart from other disciplines?
 History is the study of the past primarily through written
documents, pictures, and various publications
TOOLS OF HISTORIANS
 Historians have two sorts of documents that they consult:
 Primary Source Documents: Documents written during the
time under study; These sources were present during an
experience or time period and of fer an inside view of a
particular event.
 i.e. original documents, government records, creative works
 Secondary Source Documents: Documents that interpret and
analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more
steps removed from the event. These sources were made after
the fact/event occurred. Historians consult primary sources
about a person, era or event and attempt to interpret the
evidence.
 i.e. textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, books
SO, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT
PRIMARY OR SECONDARY AND WHY?
 Chat with your neighbor for a second on which is most
important and why you believe it to be.
SO, WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF
TOOLS OF HISTORIANS
Of the identified sources below try to determine which are
primary and which are secondary and why they are.
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Private letters, diaries, memoirs
Poems and novels
Drawings, paintings, and cartoons
Photos & films
Newspapers
Statistics
Government Records
Oral Records
PRIVATE LETTER, DIARIES, & MEMOIRS
 Private letters, diaries, and memoirs:
Pros
 Provide an up close picture of the effect of historical events on
the lives of people who firsthand experience them
 If the source wasn’t intended for the public the content might
tell us more or unexpected info about the author or the time
 Tells us about the personality of the author
Cons
 If the document was intended for the public then it might be
contrived or false; contains the bias of the author
 Only present one viewpoint rather than the perspective of many
 If recalled later then the details may be blurred or inaccurate
 Only see what is included but not excluded
POEMS, NOVELS, DRAWINGS,
PAINTINGS, & CARTOONS
Pros
 Can provide a glimpse of the spirit/culture of the time i.e.
speech, dress, atmosphere
 Can an of fer an emotional side that allows the reader to
better understand the circumstance and individuals of a time
 Examples of the art style of the time
Cons
 Not solely concerned with providing a factual account because
it is more concerned with artistic expression
 Only shows one specific aspect of a period
 Subject to the bias of the author/creator
 Can be used as propaganda
FILMS, PHOTOS, & SOUNDRECORDINGS
Ex: Archival Footage, Photos or Movies
Pros
 Can capture moments in history in vivid detail and give a
unique glimpse into the past
 Excellent examples of propaganda
 Reflect aspects of culture like dress, etc.
Cons
 Can be edited or parts omitted
 Can either highlight or downplay certain details
 Creators impression or perspective always present in the
piece
NEWSPAPERS
Pros
 Provides a daily record of events of the time
 Tells a story about society or specific aspects of its culture
Cons
 A product of the societies in which they are produced
 Subject to censorship of the leader
 Might be used as propaganda
STATISTICS
Ex: Census Info
Pros
 Raw factual evidence when reliable
 Open to interpretation, free of personal and cultural bias
Cons
 Can be manipulated by the gov.
 Might only represent a limited sample of population
 Stats are always produced for a specific purpose
 Only reflects what the government has interest in recording or
wants you to know
GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Ex. Birth Records, Deeds, Court Docs, Mil Records, Tax Records
Pros
 If never intended for the public can give a good glimpse into
the inner-workings of a government
 Purely factual, solid, and reliable
Cons
 If release was anticipated could have been manipulated to
conceal truth
 Only reflects what the government has interest in recording or
wants you to know
ORAL HISTORY
Pros
 Provides first-hand knowledge of historical events
 Provides important historical evidence about people, especially
minority groups
 Preserves details that might not be included in written accounts
 Shows opinion by people who experienced the time period
Cons
 If the person interviewed is older or time has passed,
recollection might be sketchy; accuracy may be an issue
 Experiences in the present might influence accounts of the past
 Personal opinion, culture always present
 Tend to justify own actions/inaction or paint self in a positive
light
FOR HOME WORK
 Choose a controversial person or event in history.
 Find 3 sources: 2 primary and 1 secondary
 Analyze the sources and then formulate a summary about
your person or event based on the evidence present in the
sources.
 Be sure to examine whether or not there is a consensus
amongst your chosen sources. What does dissension tell us
about your selection?
 Be mindful of both the pros and cons in each document
chosen and highlight them in your summary.
 Your summary should be one to two pages type written.
 One inch margins, times new roman font double spaced.
EXAMPLE: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
 The United States 16 th President
 Often referred to af fectionately as “Honest Abe”
 Often credited as the quintessential abolitionist for his ending
of slavery in the United States
 Assassinated in 1865 by southern rebel
 Regarded as one of the greatest presidents in American
history
ABE LINCOLN’S PRIVATE LETTER TO
HORACE GREELEY 1862
 "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union,
and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save
the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I
could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I
could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would
also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I
do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I
refrain, I refrain because I do not believe it would help to save
the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am
doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall
believe doing more will help the cause."
 "Letter to Horace Greeley" (August 22, 1862)
LINCOLN-DOUGLASS
DEBATE SPEECH
 I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of
bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the
white and black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor
of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to
hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in
addition to this that there is a physical difference between the
white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two
races living together on terms of social and political equality.
And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain
together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and
I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior
position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do
not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior
position the negro should be denied everything .”
 Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston, Illinois,
September 18, 1858
ABE LINCOLN’S PRIVATE LETTER TO
JAMES BROWN
 "I believe the declara[tion] that 'all men are created equal' is
the great fundamental principle upon which our free
institutions rest; that negro slavery is violative of that
principle; but that, by our frame of government, that principle
has not been made one of legal obligation; that by our frame
of government, the States which have slavery are to retain it,
or surrender it at their own pleasure; and that all others --individuals, free-states and national government ---are
constitutionally bound to leave them alone about it.
 "Letter to James N. Brown" (October 18, 1858)
LINCOLN’S WORD ON SLAVERY
IN HIS HOME TOWN
 "We are proclaiming ourselves political hypocrites before the
world, by thus fostering Human Slavery and proclaiming
ourselves, at the same time, the sole friends of Human
Freedom.“
 Speech at Springfield, Illinois" (October 4, 1854 )
LINCOLN THE GREAT EMANICIPATOR
HOW SHOULD WE RECALL ABE LINCOLN?
 Based on what was read in Lincoln’s speeches concerning the
issue of slavery should we regard him as an abolitionist or
not?