Question

question 5 of 10
in 1990, the middle eastern country of iraq invaded its smaller neighbor, kuwait. in response, an international coalition of forces led by the united states attacked iraq. the resulting gulf war lasted several months and ended with the defeat of iraq, which withdrew its forces from kuwait.
a historian wants to know how the gulf war was fought. which of the following is an appropriate way to use primary sources to answer this question?
a. read all the articles about iraq published by a single newspaper during the past few decades
b. survey americans who learned about the war in school
c. make inferences based on how previous wars were fought in the middle east
d. interview soldiers who served on both sides of the conflict

Explanation:

Primary sources are original materials from the time of the event. Soldiers who served in the Gulf War are direct participants (primary source).

• Option A: Articles from a single newspaper may be biased or not comprehensive enough. Also, articles are secondary sources (interpretation of events).
• Option B: Americans who learned about the war in school are relying on secondary - source information (what they were taught, which is an interpretation).
• Option C: Making inferences based on previous wars is not using primary sources about the Gulf War itself.
• Option D: Interviewing soldiers (direct participants) is using primary sources to understand how the Gulf War was fought.

Answer:

D. Interview soldiers who served on both sides of the conflict