Analyzing Primary Sources

Name: Date: US History I Touchstone 4: Analyzing Primary Sources Template Complete the following template, including all parts, for each primary source you chose from the Touchstone 4: Primary Source List. Fill out all cells using complete sentences. Part 1: Meet the Primary Source Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2 Write the title of the primary source from the Touchstone 4: Primary Source List, and paste the web link here. NOTE: Submissions that discuss primary sources that are not on the provided list will be returned ungraded. “Cherokee Petition Protesting Removal, 1836” https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/manifest-destiny/cherokee-petition-protesting-removal-1836/ “Letter of Christopher Columbus on his First Voyage to America” https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/manifest-destiny/cherokee%02petition-protesting-removal-1836/%20A%20Nation%20Divided,%201800-1877 What type of primary source is this? (Types could include a letter, speech, court transcript, legislation, diary entry, photograph, artifact, map, broadside, circular, political cartoon, artwork, etc.) The first source is a Petition. The second source is a letter. Provide a brief description of something you notice about the source as if you were explaining to someone who cannot see it. This primary source is a petition drafted by the representatives of the Cherokee nation in 1836, which is a protest against the loss of their territory. It is a written piece, probably containing several pages, addressed to the government of the United States. The text portrays the Cherokee leaders' complaints and explains their reasons for the supposed treaty that would force them to leave their lands. It showcases the Cherokee's attempts to participate in the American political system, such as signing petitions to protect their rights and land. This primary source is a letter in which Christopher Columbus describes his encounters with different islands, indigenous peoples, and geographical features of America in 1943. He talks about the islands he found, such as San Salvador (Guanahani), Hispaniola, and Cuba. He gives descriptions of the land, the plants, animals, and the indigenous peoples he met during his exploration. Besides, Columbus talks about his encounters with the native people, their culture, and his views on the abundance of the new territories. Part 2: Observe its Parts Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2 Who wrote it or created it? Was it one person, or was it a group, like an organization? This treaty included the Cherokee nation members, meaning the work was done by a group of people rather than a single person. The letter was written by Christopher Columbus, a person who is an explorer, to the Treasurer of Aragon, Luis de St. Angel. It was not a group or an organization that created it, but it is the personal account of Columbus's experiences and observations during his first voyage to the Americas. When was it made? This petition opposing the Cherokee nation's expulsion was put forward in 1836. In 1493, this letter was drafted. What are two things you know about the personal background or beliefs of the person or group who created it? (4-5 sentences) To begin with, the leaders of the Cherokee people showed their dedication to the American political processes and institutions. This is proven by their use of petitions and the mention of treaties with the United States government which shows a belief that the legal and diplomatic channels are the ways to protect their rights and territory. Besides, the Cherokee showed a deep connection to their land and culture, which is proved by the fact that they fought against the forced removal from their ancestral land. This means that they have a solid bond to their homeland, and they want to keep their way of life even though they are being forced by the American settlers and the government policies that are aimed at the Native Americans' assimilation or removal. Columbus was motivated by a strong passion to discover new trade routes to Asia and to spread Christianity to new lands. His strong religious beliefs, which were a result of his upbringing in a devout Catholic family and his experiences during the Reconquista in Spain, were the primary motivations for his explorations. Besides, Columbus, being a good navigator and sailor, provided him with the skills and the motivation to take the dangerous journey to the New World. Was the source meant to be public or private? If public, who do you think was the intended audience? (4-5 sentences) The petition was supposed to reach the public because it was addressed to the United States government and was probably meant to be circulated widely and considered by American policymakers and the public. The target audience would have been the legislative and executive branches of the United States government, especially the members of Congress and the President, who had the power to adopt policies on Native American affairs. This letter was meant for the public because it was a letter drafted by a famous person, Christopher Columbus, to the Treasurer of Aragon, Luis de St. Angel. Columbus probably wanted his story of the voyage to be circulated widely so that it could be used to inform and impress potential sponsors, among which were King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. Hence, the Spanish monarchs, members of the royal court, and other influential individuals who were engaged in maritime ventures and colonial affairs were targeted. Part 3: Interpret its Meaning: Historical Context Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2 Describe two other things that were happening at the time the source was created. (4-5 sentences) Tensions over land rights and the Native American removal were on the rise in the United States. President Andrew Jackson signed the Act of Indian Removal that dictated that Native Americans like the Cherokee people move forcefully from their original land to the western part of River Mississippi. Debates over slavery were also heating up, which resulted in the widening of the gap between states of the North and the South concerning slavery ...