Why do historians use information from biased documents?(1 point)
Responses
Biased documents are the only documents historians can use.
Biased documents are the only documents historians can use.
Biased documents help them reason who the author was and what social economic class they were from.
Biased documents help them reason who the author was and what social economic class they were from.
Understanding an author’s beliefs helps them get a feel for the main ideas of the time.
Understanding an author’s beliefs helps them get a feel for the main ideas of the time.
Biased documents are accurate portrayals of events.
Which main events are most likely included in the era named Age of Contact (1519–1689)?(1 point)
Responses
an expansion of cattle and railroads
an expansion of cattle and railroads
growth of the oil industry
growth of the oil industry
violent encounters between Native Americans and Spanish explorers
violent encounters between Native Americans and Spanish explorers
a civil war and the aftermath
violent encounters between Native Americans and Spanish explorers
1. Historians use information from biased documents because biased documents can provide valuable insights into the author's perspective and biases. By understanding the author's beliefs and background, historians can gain a better understanding of the context in which the document was written and the main ideas of the time.
2. Biased documents can also help historians identify the author's social and economic class, which can provide additional information about their motivations and interests. This information can be valuable in analyzing the document and its historical significance.
3. It is important to note that biased documents do not always provide accurate portrayals of events. Historians have to carefully consider multiple sources and critically evaluate the information to piece together a more comprehensive and objective understanding of historical events.
Historians use information from biased documents for several reasons. First, biased documents are often the only available sources of information for certain time periods or events. It is important for historians to work with the documents they have, even if they are biased, in order to piece together a more comprehensive understanding of history.
Second, biased documents can provide valuable insights into the author's background and perspective. By analyzing the biases present in a document, historians can better understand the author's motivations, beliefs, and social or economic class. This helps historians contextualize the information and interpret it correctly.
Third, understanding the author's beliefs and biases can provide historians with a deeper understanding of the dominant ideas and ideologies of the time period. By examining biased documents, historians can gain insights into societal attitudes, prevailing political or cultural viewpoints, and the ways in which power dynamics shaped historical events.
However, it is important to note that biased documents are not necessarily accurate portrayals of events. Historians have to critically analyze and cross-reference information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and objectivity. By comparing biased documents with other sources and considering a range of perspectives, historians can strive to paint a more accurate and nuanced picture of the past.