Using Primary Sources as Evidence - Notes

Using Primary Sources as Evidence

Discussion Question

  • The discussion question from the module focuses on how to use primary sources as evidence.
  • The question pertains to the major concerns of American laborers during a specific historical period, as reflected in primary source documents.
  • Primary sources are defined as historical documents from the period being studied.

Primary Sources Assigned

  • Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor (1878)
  • Samuel Gompers' excerpt from the American Federation of Labor (1883)
  • Eugene Debs' excerpt from Outlook on Socialism in The United States (1900)

Sample Response Breakdown

  • The sample response demonstrates how to point out specific concerns of labor and use evidence from primary sources to support interpretations.
  • Identified major concerns: Long hours, unsafe working conditions, and low wages.
  • Big business leaders of the time were primarily interested in generating profit and enlarging their businesses, leading to a lack of concern for laborers' needs.
  • Workers felt the need to form labor unions or engage in wildcat strikes.
  • Example from Samuel Gompers: "Wherever trade unions have organized and are most firmly organized, there the rights of people [are] most respected." (American Federation of Labor, Sheehan Mayer, p. 20).
  • Workers believed that work hours should be reduced due to labor-saving technology.
  • Knights of Labor's stance: Advocated for the reduction of work hours to eight per day for social enjoyment, intellectual improvement, and to reap the benefits of labor-saving machinery.
  • Quote from Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor: "…the reduction of the hours of labor to eight per day so that the laborers may have more time for social enjoyment and intellectual improvement and be enabled to reap the advantages conferred by the labor saving machinery which their brains have created." (Preamble to the Constitution of the Knights of Labor, Sheehan Mayer, p. 26)

Best Practices in Writing History

  • Establish the Time Period: Provide explicit details to contextualize the response.
  • Identify Specific Concerns: List specific examples relevant to the question (e.g., long work hours, unsafe working conditions, low wages).
  • Provide Historical Context: Include the larger historical background, such as the motivations of big business leaders and the workers' responses (forming labor unions, wildcat strikes).
  • Utilize Primary Sources as Evidence: Use historical documents from the period to support claims.
  • Cite Evidence Appropriately: Provide parenthetical citations with the source text, book, and page number.
    • Example citation format: (American Federation of Labor, Sheehan Mayer, p. 20).