Research Methods

This source acts as the first of two primary sources used for this project. Here an online viewing format of the accounts of Christopher Columbus' 1492 trip to the New World. A journal entry is attached as a sub-page of the Summary page; this journal entry is taken from this source. Furthermore, this source is taken from The American YAWP, which is a trusted American textbook used and trusted by people across the continent.

This source acts as the second of two primary sources used for this project. Within it is an online viewing platform of the late, notable explorers, Lewis and Clark. The accounts of their travel was documented onto this website. This account was used to support the theories surrounding the map making process per the stated time period(s).

This secondary source provided an image of the expansion of America through territorial acquisitions. This image not only maps America's expansion, but it also provides the year of these acquisitions and the title to be used when referring to these acquirements. The specific image used from this source can be found on the essential questions page, at the bottom on the right.

This secondary source was used to to answer the first essential question, also the first answer in the Summary page. Completed by the Guinness World Records, this source is accurate and trustable. Providing all the information required about the first map of the New World.

The above three secondary sources are all dedicated to the second answer of the second essential question, found in the Summary page and Essential Questions page respectfully. The first two sources are directed to Waldseemüller's and Bull's respective maps of America. The information was taken from the Library of Congress, which is a trustable source as it is the Library of Congress. Furthermore, the third source was provided by Monticello. Monticello is the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, and the website- Monticello- is just a platform that provided information the the third president. Specifically, information regarding the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase, which is mentioned briefly at the end of the second summary. All information was taken here.

This secondary source provided information regarding all the territorial acquisitions by the United States; which is an important element of the growth of America's map making. This source provided background information, as well as some alluded to points, that was used throughout the entire project.

This secondary source provided the information used for the fourth answer to the fourth essential question, found in the Summary page and the Essential Questions page respectively. In specific, is was used to learn about the different tools required by early cartographers to create their maps, also allowing readers to learn about the later tools that would rise up from these predecessor.

This source, the last secondary source, is a detailed biography of the famous explorer-merchant, Amerigo Vespucci. Any reference to Vespucci found within this project is taken from here. Fun fact: did you know America is named after Amerigo Vespucci?