Sometimes secondary sources can be challenging to read. They may be translated from works written a long time ago and sound very different from modern English. They may use complicated vocabulary and sentences to analyze multiple historical events. Ultimately, reading secondary sources is a valuable way to learn about history.
In this task, you’ll study a secondary source and summarize it to gain insight into one of our founding documents. Your goal in reading this secondary source will be to attain a general understanding of the topic. While reading the source below, it may be useful to have a dictionary (print or online) that you can use to look up terms that are new to you. It may also be helpful to take notes, in your own words, as you move through the text. You can take notes in a notebook or a software program of your choice.
Read this secondary source from a government website about the history of the Declaration of Independence. You may stop reading the heading “The Engrossed Declaration." Write one paragraph (100–150 words) that summarizes the information you just read about the Declaration of Independence.
