The second supporting question, “What was the cultural and economic impact of the fur trade on the nations involved (including Native American, European, and American)?” helps students use sources to unwrap the context of the time and topic being examined. Complete the following task using the sources provided to build a context of the time period and topic being examined.
Formative Performance Task 2
Read the featured source A, “Commerce and Conflict: A History of Pembina, 1797-1895” by Gregory S. Camp. What is author’s historical argument or thesis statement? What does the source tell us about the fur trade? What else can you find? Create a list of the explorers and traders of the northern Great Plains and any positive or negative impacts that resulted from the trade. Use the additional sources to help complete the picture of the fur trade during this period of time.
Featured Sources 2
The source featured below is a secondary source. Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of historical events, people, places, and ideas by someone who does not necessarily have firsthand experience of the subject. This is the material that historians and other researchers have written about primary sources and the events, ideas, and people of history. These are the products of historical work including exhibits, websites, documentaries, performances, books, and other publications. When students read or view secondary sources, they should pay careful attention to the bibliography. What sources did the author use? Are they reliable evidence to support their claims? When students read or view secondary sources, they should also explore additional sources, including primary sources, to get an accurate understanding of the context and if the author wrote a valid, accurate, and thoughtful interpretation. What is the author’s historical argument, or thesis statement? Are their claims logical and supported by evidence? Further research of materials and sources can either prove or disprove the students’ argument.
| Source A | |
| Source B | 
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| Source C |
Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site—click on the links for site history and images and resources. |
Learn more about the history of the fur trade in North Dakota by visiting the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, or Pembina State Museum.