Primary Source Analysis: Historical Maps
What is a Primary Source?
A primary source is something created at the time an event happened. Maps, photographs, letters, and diaries are all primary sources that help us understand the past.
How to Analyze a Historical Map
- Observe: What do you see? Look at the title, date, and symbols.
- Question: When was it made? Who made it? Why?
- Compare: How is it different from maps today?
- Connect: What does it tell us about that time period?
Source 1: Early Map of the United States (1803)
Imagine a map showing only 17 states along the East Coast. The western half is labeled "Louisiana Territory" - land just purchased from France.
1. The 1803 map shows only 17 states. What does this tell us?
A) The US was smaller then
B) States were larger then
C) The mapmaker made mistakes
D) There were no states yet
Answer
A) - The US grew over time as more territories became states.
2. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the US. This land became which part of the country?
A) The East Coast
B) The Central and Western regions
C) Alaska
D) Hawaii
Answer
B) - The Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
Source 2: Pioneer's Description (1850s)
"We traveled for weeks across the Great Plains. The land was flat as far as the eye could see, with tall grass waving in the wind. We crossed many rivers and finally saw the Rocky Mountains rising in the distance."
- Sarah Mitchell, Pioneer Diary, 1852
3. What physical features does Sarah describe?
A) Oceans and beaches
B) Plains, rivers, and mountains
C) Deserts and cactus
D) Forests and lakes
Answer
B) - She mentions flat plains, rivers, and the Rocky Mountains.
4. This is a primary source because:
A) It was written recently
B) It was written by someone who was there at the time
C) It's in a textbook
D) It talks about geography
Answer
B) - Primary sources are created by people who experienced the events.
5. Sarah traveled from East to West. Which direction is that?
A) Left to right on a map
B) Right to left on a map
C) Top to bottom
D) Bottom to top
Answer
A) - On standard maps, West is left and East is right.
More Practice
6. Why are old maps important primary sources?
A) They're prettier than new maps
B) They show how people understood geography at that time
C) They're always more accurate
D) They cost more money
Answer
B) - Historical maps show what people knew and how the country changed over time.
7. A photograph from 1900 showing the Grand Canyon would be:
A) A secondary source
B) A primary source
C) Not a source
D) Fiction
Answer
B) A primary source - It was created at that time by someone who was there.
8. What question should you ask when looking at a historical map?
A) Is it colorful?
B) When and why was it made?
C) How much did it cost?
D) Who owns it now?
Answer
B) - Understanding when and why helps you interpret the source.
9. If a map from 1850 doesn't show California as a state, what does this tell you?
A) The mapmaker forgot California
B) California wasn't a state yet
C) California didn't exist
D) The map is fake
Answer
B) - California became a state in 1850, so earlier maps wouldn't show it.
10. How can comparing old and new maps help us understand history?
A) It can't help
B) It shows how the country grew and changed
C) New maps are always wrong
D) Old maps are always wrong
Answer
B) - Comparing maps shows territorial growth, new states, and changing boundaries.
Next Steps
- Find a historical map of your state online
- Practice the OQCC method (Observe, Question, Compare, Connect)
- Continue to Claim-Evidence Writing