Name: Hiram A. Marquez
Date: 03/23/2025
US History I
Touchstone 4: Analyzing Primary Sources Template
Complete the following template, including all parts, for each primary source you chose from the U.S. History I Primary Source List.
Fill out all cells using complete sentences.
The two sources must be from separate time periods on the provided list (the time periods are: Settling the Americas, 10,000 BCE-
1700; The Road to Revolution, 1600-1783; The New Nation, 1776-1840; and A Nation Divided, 1800-1877).
Part 1:
Meet the Primary
Source
Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2
Write the title of the
primary source from
the U.S History I
Primary Source List
and paste the web
link here.
“Colored Soldiers! Equal State Rights! And
Monthly Pay with White Men!” Circular::
www.docsteach.org/documents/document/
circular-colored-soldiers
Letter of Christopher Columbus on his First
Voyage to America:
:nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/
contact/text1/columbusletter.pdf
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.)
‘’Colored soldiers! Equal state rights! And monthly pay
with white man!’’ circular: loos like a promotional
advertisement for black people to join the military
during the civil war.
The primary source is a letter
Provide a brief
description of
It’s a recruiting poster from the president of the United
States for black people to join the military in exchange
It’s a 5-page letter from Christopher Colombus on his
first voyage to America. It gives details of an everyday
something you notice
about the source, as
if you were
explaining it to
someone who can’t
see it.
(For example, you
might describe its
physical appearance,
its formal title if it has
one, its type of
language, its size or
length, or anything else
in particular that stands
out to you.)
for freedom and economic stability. It has the most
important information such as the word ‘’freedom’’,
‘’monthly pay’’ and the amount getting paid in big
words so they can attract the audience to join. The
poster is a regular-size poster that you would usually
place in the walls of streets with handwriting from the
1800’s.
journey and pictures of maps of where he is going, it
also provides information on when he got there and
started exchanging words with Indians in the new
world.
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?
(HINT: You may need
to use the internet to
help you research
these questions, and
the rest of the
questions in Part 2.)
The flyer was written by:Frederick Douglass:and
signed by him and 54 leaders in the Philadelphia
African American community, including Octavius Catto.
This letter was written by Christopher Colombus.
When was it made?
It was made in February of 1863
This letter was written in March 15, 1493.
What are two things
you know about the
personal
background or
beliefs of the person
or group who
created it? (4-5
sentences)
I have noticed two key aspects of this poster or flyer.
First, they emphasize "monthly pay" and "freedom" in
larger text to attract attention, likely because they were
struggling to recruit people to join their cause. Second,
they mention influential figures like Abraham Lincoln to
establish credibility and gain trust.
I have noticed that in this letter, he explains everything
about the journey as if he is reporting to a supervisor.
Additionally, when he talks about the Indians, he states
that he never received anything from them. He
mentions giving them clothes and other items to gain
their trust, and then he took the gold away.
Was the source
meant to be public
or private? If public,
who do you think
was the intended
audience? (4-5
sentences)
The image displayed on the poster was specifically
targeted at the public, particularly to Black individuals.
During the Civil War, which was fought between the
North and South, the goal was to encourage people to
join the fight. Ultimately, they were seeking support
from Black individuals.
This letter from Christopher Columbus was addressed
to the king at that time. In it, he explains every detail of
his voyage, including each stop he made and the deals
he negotiated. I believe that this mission was a
responsibility assigned to him that he was expected to
fulfill.
Part 3:
Interpret the
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)
November 6, 1860-8The American people elect
Abraham Lincoln as sixteenth president of the United
States. Lincoln is the first Republican president in the
nation and represents a party that opposes the spread
of slavery into the territories of the United States.
In 1493 nina an pinta ships were separated again in a
fierce storm.
In 1492 the jews were expelled from spain.
(Careful! In some
cases, this could be
different from the time
the source describes
or portrays.)
April 15, 1861-8President Lincoln issues a public
declaration that an insurrection exists and calls for
75,000 militia to stop the rebellion. As a result of this
call for volunteers, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina,
and Tennessee secede from the Union in the following
weeks. Lincoln will respond on May 3 with an additional
call for 43,000+ volunteers to serve for three years,
expanding the size of the Regular Army.
How does that
context (or
background
information) help
you understand why
it was created? (4-5
sentences)
in 1862 the government tried to recruit men to the
military through recruitment posters. The posters listed
how much money men could get for signing up, what
the government would do for their families if they were
killed in battle, and tried to appeal to people's senses
of duty, community, and patriotism. Each poster
targeted specific groups of people, sometimes Irish,
other times Bostonians, and also tried to enlist African
Americans to segregated units.
Columbus wanted to find a new route to India, China,
Japan and the Spice Islands. If he could reach these
lands, he would be able to bring back rich cargoes of
silks and spices. Columbus knew that the world was
round and realised that by sailing west – instead of
east around the coast of Africa, as other explorers at
the time were doing – he would still reach his
destination.
Part 4:
Interpret the
Meaning (Main
Points and
Purpose)
Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2
What is the main
idea or point of the
source? Use specific
evidence from the
source itself to
support your
answer. (4-5
The main goal was to enlist as many people as
possible to help fight in the war. They were in a
desperate situation, which is why they offered attractive
economic incentives and, at one point, even land for
those who served after the war ended. This strategy
was effective, as 10% of the military at that time was
The main idea of this letter is to provide information
about the New World. Spain was searching for
alternative trade routes for spices, and in the process,
they discovered the New World. This discovery
significantly boosted Spain's economy due to the gold
obtained from America.
sentences) made up of Black soldiers.
Why do you think
this primary source
was made? Provide
evidence from your
prior responses to
support your claim.
(4-5 sentences)
(For example, was the
purpose simply to
inform? To persuade?
To sensationalize? Or
something else?)
This primary source aimed to persuade individuals of
all backgrounds to join the military, but it specifically
targeted Black people. The message emphasized the
significant potential in their strength and numbers.
The primary source was intended to document
everything that occurred during the trip. It highlights
each date and every action that took place.
Additionally, the author aimed to create a biography of
his journey, aware that he was making history.
Part 5:
Use as Historical
Evidence
Primary Source 1 Primary Source 2
What are two
historical questions
this source could
help you to answer?
This poster can help us understand this question:
first, why make such an offer to black people?
Were they losing the war or just want black people
to be part of this historic moment?
Another question is where they trying to recruit
black people because the South was making black
people fight and they thought that having black
people fighting with them would make them not
shoot each other. Or it was just tactics to have
superior numbers over the south
One question that I would ask for myself and other
people would be What is the voyage across the
Atlantic like for Columbus and his sailors?
Because he describes everything that was going
on during his trip except for what his sailors were
going thru.
Another question would be What do Colombus see
during his trip? We know it was a different time in
life and equality was not a thing, that question will
help understand the really hard time people went
thru.
What are two pieces
of information the
source presents that
you should “fact
check” (verify as
true) by checking
other primary or
secondary sources?
Two pieces of information the sources present that
I shoul fact check would be how the president of
the United States was involved in every move the
north was making and how that gave credibility to
the purpose of the was. And other how black
people respond to the call of the president by
joining the military and being a big part of winning
the war.
Columbus writes about his achievements in
claiming new lands for the King and Queen. He
describes his relationships with the natives as
positive, despite initially taking some captives by
force. These are two aspects of his account that I
would like to fact-check. Columbus states, "They
firmly believe that I, with my ships and men, have
come from Heaven." This claim is questionable for
two reasons: Columbus often confused his
location, and it is highly unlikely that he made such
a declaration regarding his arrival.
This primary source
shows one
perspective on this
topic. What are two
other perspectives
you should get to
better understand
this event or topic,
and why? (4-5
sentences)
Other perspective is that by the end of the Civil
War, roughly 179,000 black men (10% of the Union
Army) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and
another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000
black soldiers died throughout the war—30,000 of
infection or disease. Black soldiers served in
artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat
support functions that sustain an army, as well.
Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards,
laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots,
surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the
war cause.
Another perspective to understand is that
Europeans were trying to find sea routes to the Far
East like China, India, and Japan if he had been
able to find that route he would have been
successful anyway because he would have
brought back rich cargoes of silks and spices
Reflection: What
perspective do you
bring to this topic
and source? How
does your
background and the
time in which you
live affect your
perspective? (4-5
The progress made in today's society positively
affects how African Americans, or Black
individuals, can participate in and excel in various
sports. I believe Abraham Lincoln recognized their
potential, which is why he wanted them to serve in
the military. Just as they are finding success now,
the Civil War marked the beginning of these
opportunities for Black people.
I believe my perspective fuels my skepticism about
Columbus's claim that he received a "peaceful"
welcome upon discovering the lands. As a white
woman in America in the 21st century, I cannot
envision a situation where people with unfamiliar
customs and a language I do not understand took
over my home. I can only imagine that the native
population felt fearful and suspicious towards
Columbus and his crew. My experiences as a
sentences)
woman further shape my cynicism regarding
Columbus's supposed "warm welcome."
Checklist for Success:
Check that your chosen sources are on the provided list.❒
Check that your chosen sources come from different time periods.❒
Check that all sections of the template are complete for both sources.❒
Check that you have included your name and date.❒
Check that your work is proofread for proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.❒
