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Read the document's world, too
Historical context concerns the conditions in which a source was created.
The idea
Audience, institutions, available knowledge and social pressures shape what a document means.
An example
A public speech and a private letter by the same person may use different language for different audiences.
Put it into practice
Ask who could hear or read these words at the time.
Further reading: Library of Congress · Primary Sources ↗
Test yourself: Which detail helps contextualise a speech?
Its intended audience and circumstances
The original setting helps explain how and why a source was produced.
Explanation and illustrative examples by One Card Wiser. Source linked for further reading.
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