Explain the differing points of view and how these primary sources inform us about this period of history.

Before you begin writing
✓ Read Chapter 16, “America’s Gilded Age 1870-1890” with special emphasis on the subsection
“The Transformation of the West.”
✓ Access the primary source collection you will analyze through this hyperlink: The American Yawp
Reader Chapter 17.
✓ Read the introduction to the collection of primary sources at the top of the web page. Then,
explore the collection to answer the questions provided in the next step(s).

Part I Questions
1) Title your paper “Primary Source Analysis 1” skip 2 lines then answer question 2. Number each
question as you respond.
2) Generally, who is speaking? For example, some authors/speakers are U.S. Government officials
with a specific plan for addressing the “Indian problem.” Which “sides” are presented in this
group? This means do multiple authors/speakers who share similar points of view?
3) Is there disagreement between the “sides”? If so, what is the disagreement about?
4) Does each side offer a solution to the issue? If so, what solution(s) are offered?

Part II Short Essay
5) Write a ½ half- to 1-page short essay response or conclusions in response to the prompt below.
You should include an identification of the time, space, and issue.

Prompt: How did white encroachment affect Native Americans in the West
and what were suggestions about how to resolve the issues caused by a settlement?

FORMAT—checklist

Part I Questions
✓ Title the paper “Primary Source Analysis 1” skip 2 lines then answer question 1. Number each
question as you respond.

Part II Short Essay
✓ This is a short response, so the time frame should be along the lines of “the late 19th
century” or “the late 1800s.”
✓ Briefly describe why the tension exists. For example: “American expansion is overtaking the
lands of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River.”
✓ Explain the differing points of view and how these primary sources inform us about this
period of history.
✓ Use (i.e., directly quote) 3 examples from the primary sources—you may group them
together by point-of-view, topic, time, or space. Footnote the sources used. The original
source location for each document or photo is listed at the bottom of the web page but is
not formatted in Chicago Style. Use the Chicago Manual of Style to correctly format each
footnote.

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