3 Evidence and Source Evaluation Free Online FlashCards

What is historical evidence?

Historical evidence is information historians use to answer questions about the past.

What makes a source primary?

A primary source was created during the period being studied, such as a letter, photograph, record, or object.

Are primary sources always more reliable than secondary sources?

Neither type is automatically reliable or unreliable. A source’s usefulness depends on the question and claim being examined.

What is corroboration?

Corroboration is comparing sources to identify where they agree, differ, or leave gaps.

What connects a claim to evidence in a historical argument?

A sound argument links a claim to relevant evidence and explains the reasoning that connects them.

When is a historical claim supported?

Relevant evidence backs the claim, and the reasoning fits the evidence.

What makes a source secondary?

A secondary source later describes or interprets the past.

What should historians consider about a source’s creator and date?

Consider the creator’s role, access to events, and how much time had passed.

Why do a source’s purpose and audience matter?

Its purpose and audience can shape how it describes an event; a diary, speech, and official report may differ for this reason.

How should historians distinguish source content from inference?

Separate details the source directly presents from conclusions you infer from those details.

What are common limits of a historical source?

A creator may lack complete information, have a particular point of view, or aim to persuade. Missing details alone do not prove an event did or did not happen.

Why check whether sources are independent?

Check whether apparently separate accounts relied on the same report. Repetition is not necessarily independent confirmation.