Primary Source Analysis: US Regions
Source 1: Letter from a Pioneer (1850)
"Dear Mother, We have arrived in California after six months on the trail. The journey across the Great Plains was hard - flat land for weeks with little water. But when we crossed the Rocky Mountains and saw the Pacific Ocean, I knew we made the right choice. Gold has been found here, and the climate is warm all year!"
1. Which two regions did the pioneer travel through?
A) Northeast and Southeast
B) Midwest and West
C) Southeast and Southwest
D) Northeast and Midwest
Answer
B) Midwest and West - The Great Plains are in the Midwest, and California is in the West.
2. What does "flat land for weeks" tell us about the Midwest?
A) It has many mountains
B) It has flat prairies
C) It has lots of forests
D) It has beaches
Answer
B) It has flat prairies - The Midwest is known for its flat plains and prairies.
3. Why did the pioneer say the journey was "hard"?
A) Too many people
B) Little water on the plains
C) The weather was cold
D) No gold was found
Answer
B) Little water on the plains - The letter mentions "flat land for weeks with little water."
Source 2: From "America the Beautiful" (1893)
"O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!"
— Katharine Lee Bates, inspired by her trip to Colorado
4. "Amber waves of grain" describes which region?
A) Northeast cities
B) Southeast beaches
C) Midwest farmland
D) Western deserts
Answer
C) Midwest farmland - The Midwest grows wheat and other grains.
5. "Purple mountain majesties" refers to which feature?
A) Great Lakes
B) Rocky Mountains
C) Atlantic Ocean
D) Grand Canyon
Answer
B) Rocky Mountains - Bates was inspired by the view from Pike's Peak in Colorado.
6. Why is this song a primary source about US regions?
A) It's a made-up story
B) It was written recently
C) It describes what the author actually saw
D) It's in a textbook
Answer
C) It describes what the author actually saw - Primary sources are created by people who experienced events firsthand.
Source 3: Description of Florida (1928)
"Florida is the land of sunshine and orange groves. Palm trees line the sandy beaches, and the warm waters invite swimmers all year round. Millions of visitors come to escape cold winters elsewhere."
7. Which region is Florida in?
A) Northeast
B) Southeast
C) Midwest
D) West
Answer
B) Southeast - Florida is in the Southeast region.
8. What climate feature does Florida have?
A) Cold winters
B) Warm weather year-round
C) Four seasons
D) Heavy snow
Answer
B) Warm weather year-round - The source mentions "warm waters" and people escaping cold winters.
9. What industry is suggested by "millions of visitors"?
A) Farming
B) Manufacturing
C) Tourism
D) Mining
Answer
C) Tourism - The Southeast is known for tourism.
10. Which crop is Florida famous for?
A) Wheat
B) Corn
C) Oranges
D) Potatoes
Answer
C) Oranges - The source mentions "orange groves."
Next Steps
- Look for other primary sources about US regions
- Find old photographs of different regions
- Continue to Claim-Evidence Writing