Primary Sources are more than just written documents - they include artwork and objects as well. Using a 4 step process of sourcing, contextualization, close reading, and corroboration students can increase their historical literacy skills to move beyond mere reading comprehension. *Please note: This PowerPoint was presented on August 27, 2014 to high school History teachers in Fairfax County, VA.

1. Building Historical
Literacy Skills
Zerah Jakub
Manager of Educational
Resources and Outreach
www.mountvernon.org/teachers

2. What are primary sources?
• Documents

3. What are primary sources?
• Documents
• Artwork

4. What are primary sources?
• Documents
• Artwork
• Objects

5. Sourcing Before You Dive Into Your Primary
Source
 Who created it?
 Where was it created?
 When was it created?
 Why was it created?
 What was the author’s perspective?
 Is it reliable?

6. Contextualization
Looking at the Bigger Picture
 What was different when the primary
source was
created?
 What was the same when it was created?
 How might the circumstances in which the
primary source was created affect its
content?

7. Close Reading Getting to Know Your Primary
Source
 What claims does the creator make?
 What evidence does the creator
use?
 What language does the creator use
persuade
his/her audience?
 How does the primary source
suggest the
creator’s perspective?

8. Corroboration Opening the Door to Other Primary
Sources
 What do other primary sources say?
 Do other primary sources agree? If
not, why?
 What are other possible primary
sources?
 What are the most reliable sources?

9. Background Information on George
Washington and the Boston Tea Party
http://www.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/
Tea
The House of Burgesses

10. DOCUMENTS

11. Resolution of the House of Burgesses Designating a
Day of Fasting and Prayer, 24 May 1774
TUESDAY, THE 24TH OF MAY, 14 GEO. III. 1774.
THIS House being deeply impressed with Apprehension of the great Dangers to be derived to British America,
from the hostile Invasion of the City of Boston, in our Sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay, whose Commerce and
Harbour are on the 1st Day of June next to be stopped by an armed Force, deem it highly necessary that the said
first Day of June be set apart by the Members of this House as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer,
devoutly to implore the divine Interposition for averting the heavy Calamity, which threatens Destruction to our
civil Rights, and the Evils of civil War; to give us one Heart and one Mind firmly to oppose, by all just and proper
Means, every Injury to American Rights, and that the Minds of his Majesty and his Parliament may be inspired
from above with Wisdom, Moderation, and Justice, to remove from the loyal People of America all Cause of
Danger from a continued Pursuit of Measures pregnant with their Ruin.
Ordered, therefore, that the Members of this House do attend in their Places at the Hour of ten in the Forenoon,
on the said 1st Day of June next, in Order to proceed with the Speaker and the Mace to the Church in this City for
the Purposes aforesaid; and that the Reverend Mr. Price be appointed to read Prayers, and the Reverend
Mr. Gwatkin to preach a Sermon suitable to the Occasion.
Ordered, that this Order be forthwith printed and published. By the HOUSE of BURGESSES.
GEORGE WYTHE, C. H. B.

12. Excerpt from George Washington to George William Fairfax,
10-15 June 1774
… The day after this Event the Members convend themselves at the Raleigh Tavern & enterd into the Inclosd
Association which being followed two days after by an Express from Boston accompanied by the Sentiments of
some Meetings in our Sister Colonies to the Northwd the proceedings mentiond in the Inclos’d Papers were had
thereupon & a general meeting requested of all the late Representatives in this City on the first of August when it
is hopd, & expected that some vigorous measures will be effectually adopted to obtain that justice which is
denied to our Petitions & Remonstrances; in short the Ministry may rely on it that Americans will never be tax’d
without their own consent that the cause of Boston the despotick Measures in respect to it I mean now is and
ever will be considerd as the cause of America (not that we approve their cond[uc]t in destroyg the Tea) & that
we shall not suffer ourselves to be sacrificed by piecemeal though god only knows what is to become of us,
threatned as we are with so many hoverg evils as hang over us at present; having a cruel & blood thirsty Enemy
upon our Backs, the Indians, between whom & our Frontier Inhabitants many Skirmishes have happend, & with
who<m> a general war is inevitable whilst those from whom we have a right to Seek protection are endeavouring
by every piece of Art & despotism to fix the Shackles of Slavry upon us—…I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: W——n

13. Excerpt from George Washington to Bryan Fairfax,
4 July 1774
…As to your political sentiments, I would heartily join you in them, so far as relates to a humble and dutiful
petition to the throne, provided there was the most distant hope of success. But have we not tried this already?
Have we not addressed the Lords, and remonstrated to the Commons? And to what end? Did they deign to look
at our petitions? Does it not appear, as clear as the sun in its meridian brightness, that there is a regular,
systematic plan formed to fix the right and practice of taxation upon us?...Do not all the debates, especially those
just brought to us, in the House of Commons on the side of government, expressly declare that America must be
taxed in aid of the British funds, and that she has no longer resources within herself? Is there any thing to be
expected from petitioning after this? Is not the attack upon the liberty and property of the people of Boston,
before restitution of the loss to the India Company was demanded, a plain and self-evident proof of what they
are aiming at? Do not the subsequent bills (now I dare say acts), for depriving the Massachusetts Bay of its
charter, and for transporting offenders into other colonies or to Great Britain for trial, where it is impossible
from the nature of the thing that justice can be obtained, convince us that the administration is determined to
stick at nothing to carry its point? …With you I think it a folly to attempt more than we can execute, as that will
not only bring disgrace upon us, but weaken our cause; yet I think we may do more than is generally believed, in
respect to the non-importation scheme. As to the withholding of our remittances, that is another point, in which
I own I have my doubts on several accounts, but principally on that of justice; for I think, whilst we are accusing
others of injustice, we should be just ourselves; and how this can be, whilst we owe a considerable debt, and
refuse payment of it to Great Britain, is to me inconceivable. Nothing but the last extremity, I think, can justify it.
Whether this is now come, is the question… I am, dear Sir, your most obedient and humble servant.
.

14. Sources:
Resolution of the House of Burgesses Designating a Day of Fasting
and Prayer (24 May 1774)
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-01-02-
0082
GW to George William Fairfax (10-15 June 1774)
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-
0067
GW to Bryan Fairfax (4 July 1774)
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-
0075

15. ARTWORK

16. George Washington during the French and Indian War
(Charles Volkmar,1874, after Charles Willson Peale, 1772)

17. The Boston Tea Party
(Philip Dawe, London 1774)

18. Sources:
George Washington during the French and Indian War –
Charles Volkmar, 1874, after Charles Willson Peale, 1772
http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/french-indian-
war/washington-and-the-french-indian-war/
The Boston Tea Party - Philip Dawe, London, 1774
http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-picture-of-boston-
tea-party.html

19. OBJECTS

20. Tea Bowl (part of Tea Set)

21. Sugar Tongs

22. Teaspoon

23. Sources:
Tea Bowl
http://emuseum.mountvernon.org/code/emuseum.asp?style=text
&currentrecord=51&page=search&profile=objects&searchdesc=sp
oon&quicksearch=spoon&sessionid=EEB122C1-FAC9-45B3-934E-FFC50A979EEF&
action=quicksearch&style=single&currentrecord
=54
Sugar Tongs
http://emuseum.mountvernon.org/code/emuseum.asp?style=text
&currentrecord=21&page=search&profile=objects&searchdesc=su
gar&quicksearch=sugar&sessionid=48BAC9A4-72C1-4877-8EDC-C76BD6498C0F&
action=quicksearch&style=single&currentrecord
=26
Teaspoon
http://emuseum.mountvernon.org/code/emuseum.asp?style=sing
le&currentrecord=56&page=search&profile=objects&searchdesc=
spoon&quicksearch=spoon&sessionid=EEB122C1-FAC9-45B3-
934E-FFC50A979EEF&action=quicksearch&currentrecord=57

24. Bringing It Together
How does using a wide array of
primary sources increase historical
literacy?
What is the impact when students
widen their understanding of
primary sources?

25. Zerah Jakub
Manager of Educational
Resources and Outreach
zjakub@mountvernon.o
rg
http://www.slideshare.net/MVEducation