Does iPhoto change a RAW file upon import or export?

Hi! New Mac user here. Trying to get my workflows and backups going.
I created an iPhoto library from multiple sources: migration from PC, folders from backup HD, new photos from iPhone and camera memory card.
So I have one consolidated library that is almost 300Gb but I want to go through and remove and archive many of these, leaving only a much smaller working library with the archive copies of some originals stored somewhere else.  These archive copies will not be referenced files, my plan is to export them from iPhoto, back them up to an external HD, and then delete them from the iPhoto library. If I ever decided to look at them again, I would import them from the archive HD.
Ideally, I should have imported all the files to my iMac desktop and then imported only what I wanted into iPhoto, but because everything is now consolidated (and the photos from the iPhone and camera memory card are erased), I don't want to wipe out my iPhoto library and start over. So I'm starting with this huge managed library and want to export a good part of it to what I will call "the archive" to cull it down.
My questions: Upon import, did iPhoto change the RAW master files, or will those be the same when I export them (assuming I made no edits)? Did iPhoto change the JPEGs or will those also be the same when I export them?
How do I export the files I want to save to the archive before deleting them from the iPhoto library?
Alternatively, I think I will use Aperture going forward for editing.  Should I use that instead for trying to export these files?
Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
LCA
iMac 4 GB, 2.7 GHz, Intel Core i5
OS X 10.7.4
iPhoto 9.3.1
Aperture 3.3.1

File -> Export and in the resulting dialogue set the Kind to Original
That will export a byte by byte copy of the file you imported, unchanged in any way.
Can I suggest another way of working. Why not have two Libraries? An archive and a working one?
The principle advantage is that you won't have to import pics to review them again later, just open the other library.
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
Now you have two full versions of the Library.
3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
Some Notes:
As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager

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