Which of the following is an example of a primary source someone might use to learn about Siam's resistance to imperialism?
A. The Bowring Treaty of 1855
B. A recent textbook entry about the British in East Asia.
C. A letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s asking about rice sales to Great Britain.
D. An account of the Battle of Adwa.
C. A letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s asking about rice sales to Great Britain.
The correct answer is C. A letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s asking about rice sales to Great Britain.
This letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s would be considered a primary source as it is a direct record of communication from an individual who was involved in the events and time period being studied. It provides first-hand information about the resistance to imperialism in Siam and their efforts to negotiate economic relations with Great Britain. The other options mentioned are not primary sources as they either do not provide direct evidence from the time period in question or are not specifically related to Siam's resistance to imperialism.
To determine which of the options is a primary source someone might use to learn about Siam's resistance to imperialism, we need to understand what a primary source is. Primary sources are original materials that were created during the time period being studied, providing firsthand evidence or direct documentation of the topic in question. These sources are typically created by individuals who directly experienced or witnessed the events or phenomena being studied.
Now let's evaluate the provided options:
A. The Bowring Treaty of 1855: The Bowring Treaty is an official document or agreement between Siam and the United Kingdom. Although it may contain valuable information about Siam's relationship with Britain, it is a secondary source, not a primary source.
B. A recent textbook entry about the British in East Asia: A textbook entry is a secondary source created by an author providing an overview or interpretation of a topic. While it might touch on Siam's resistance to imperialism, it is not a primary source.
C. A letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s asking about rice sales to Great Britain: This option consists of a letter written by the King of Siam during the relevant time period. Since it is a document created by a key figure involved in the resistance to imperialism, it qualifies as a primary source.
D. An account of the Battle of Adwa: The Battle of Adwa refers to an event in Ethiopia, which is not directly related to Siam's resistance to imperialism. Therefore, this option is not a primary source related to the specific topic.
Based on the above analysis, the primary source someone might use to learn about Siam's resistance to imperialism would be option C, a letter from the King of Siam in the 1850s asking about rice sales to Great Britain.