"History is for human self-knowledge . . . the only clue to what man can do is what man has done."

Sample Solution

   

I have selected the American Civil War (1861-1865) as the historical event that I will be writing about for this course. The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American history, with over 600,000 soldiers and civilians killed. It was also a war that tested the very foundations of the American republic.

The Civil War was caused by a number of factors, including the issue of slavery, states' rights, and economic differences between the North and the South. The war began when South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, and it ended with the surrender of the Confederate army at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

Full Answer Section

      The Civil War was a significant event in American history for a number of reasons. First, it led to the end of slavery in the United States. Second, it strengthened the federal government and helped to create a sense of national unity. Third, it led to the passage of new laws and amendments to the Constitution that expanded the rights of African Americans.

1. Describe at least two secondary sources that you could use to research your historical event. Your sources must be relevant to your topic and credible. In your description, consider questions such as: What are the similarities and differences in the content of your sources? What makes them credible sources for investigating your event? What was your thought process when you were searching for sources? How did you make choices?

Two secondary sources that I could use to research the American Civil War are:

• Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson (1988)
• The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote (1958-1974)

Both of these books are highly acclaimed works of scholarship that provide comprehensive accounts of the Civil War. They are both written by respected historians who have used a wide range of primary sources to support their claims. McPherson's book is a one-volume overview of the Civil War era that covers the political, social, and military aspects of the war. Foote's book is a three-volume narrative that tells the story of the Civil War from the perspectives of both Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians. The two books are similar in that they both provide comprehensive and well-written accounts of the Civil War. However, they also differ in some ways. McPherson's book is more analytical and less narrative than Foote's book. Additionally, McPherson's book covers a wider range of topics, including the political and social aspects of the war, while Foote's book focuses more on the military aspects of the war. When I was searching for sources on the American Civil War, I wanted to find sources that were credible and that would provide me with a variety of perspectives on the war. I also wanted to find sources that were well-written and engaging. I chose McPherson's and Foote's books because they meet all of these criteria. Thought process and decision-making: I began my search for sources by identifying the main topics that I wanted to cover in my essay. These topics include the causes of the Civil War, the major events of the war, and the impact of the war on American society. I then used keywords to search for sources on these topics in online databases and library catalogs. Once I had found a number of potential sources, I evaluated them based on their credibility, relevance, and usefulness. To determine credibility, I looked at the author's credentials and the publisher's reputation. To determine relevance, I made sure that the sources covered the topics that I was interested in. And to determine usefulness, I looked at the quality of the writing and the organization of the material. I also considered the variety of perspectives that I wanted to include in my essay. I wanted to make sure that I was not just relying on sources that reflected my own point of view. Therefore, I chose sources that were written by historians from a variety of backgrounds and that represented a range of viewpoints on the Civil War. In the end, I chose McPherson's and Foote's books because they are both highly acclaimed works of scholarship that provide comprehensive and well-written accounts of the American Civil War. They are also both written by respected historians who have used a wide range of primary sources to support their claims.