Imperfect union: how Jessie and John Frémont mapped the West, invented celebrity, and helped cause the Civil War
Description
Steve Inskeep tells the riveting story of John and Jessie Frémont, the husband and wife team who in the 1800s were instrumental in the westward expansion of the United States, and thus became America's first great political couple. John Frémont grew up amid family tragedy and shame. Born out of wedlock in 1813, he went to work at age thirteen to help support his family in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a nobody. Yet, by the 1840s, he rose to become one of the most acclaimed people of the age -- known as a wilderness explorer, bestselling writer, gallant army officer, and latter-day conquistador, who in 1846 began the United States' takeover of California from Mexico. He was a celebrity who personified the country's westward expansion. Mountains, towns, ships, and streets were named after him. How did he climb so far? A vital factor was his wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, the daughter of a powerful United States senator. Jessie wanted to play roles in politics and exploration, which were then reserved for men. Frustrated, she threw her skill and passion into promoting her husband. Ordered by the US Army to map the Oregon Trail, John traveled thousands of miles on horseback, indifferent to his safety and that of the other members of his expeditions. When he returned home, Jessie helped him to shape dramatic reports of his adventures, which were reprinted in newspapers and bound as popular books. Jessie became his political adviser, and a power player in her own right. In 1856, the famous couple strategized as John became the first-ever presidential nominee of the newly established Republican Party. The party had been founded in opposition to slavery, and though both Frémonts were Southerners they became symbols of the cause. With rare detail and in consummate style, Steve Inskeep tells the story of a couple whose joint ambitions and talents intertwined with those of the nascent United States itself. Americans linked the Frémonts with not one but three great social movements of the time -- westward settlement, women's rights, and opposition to slavery. Theirs is a surprisingly modern story of ambition and fame; they lived in a time of globalization, technological disruption, and divisive politics that foreshadowed our own. The Frémonts' adventures amount to nothing less than a tour of the early American soul.
Subjects
Subjects
Antislavery movements
Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Explorers
Explorers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Frémont, Jessie Benton
Frémont, Jessie Benton, -- 1824-1902
Frémont, John Charles
Frémont, John Charles, -- 1813-1890
History
Pioneers
Pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Politicians
Politicians' spouses
Politicians' spouses -- United States -- Biography
Politicians -- United States -- Biography
Women's rights
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Women pioneers
Women pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Explorers
Explorers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Frémont, Jessie Benton
Frémont, Jessie Benton, -- 1824-1902
Frémont, John Charles
Frémont, John Charles, -- 1813-1890
History
Pioneers
Pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Politicians
Politicians' spouses
Politicians' spouses -- United States -- Biography
Politicians -- United States -- Biography
Women's rights
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Women pioneers
Women pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
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Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | b5d51fef-5d6e-a35c-b163-123b646e55e6 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | imperfect union how jessie and john fremont mapped the west invented celebrity and helped cause the civil war |
Grouping Author | steve inskeep |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-04-14 16:07:34PM |
Last Indexed | 2024-04-25 01:38:56AM |
Solr Fields
accelerated_reader_point_value
0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
author
Inskeep, Steve
author_display
Inskeep, Steve
available_at_louisville
Louisville Public Library
detailed_location_louisville
Louisville Adult NonFiction
display_description
Steve Inskeep tells the riveting story of John and Jessie Frémont, the husband and wife team who in the 1800s were instrumental in the westward expansion of the United States, and thus became America's first great political couple. John Frémont grew up amid family tragedy and shame. Born out of wedlock in 1813, he went to work at age thirteen to help support his family in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a nobody. Yet, by the 1840s, he rose to become one of the most acclaimed people of the age -- known as a wilderness explorer, bestselling writer, gallant army officer, and latter-day conquistador, who in 1846 began the United States' takeover of California from Mexico. He was a celebrity who personified the country's westward expansion. Mountains, towns, ships, and streets were named after him. How did he climb so far? A vital factor was his wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, the daughter of a powerful United States senator. Jessie wanted to play roles in politics and exploration, which were then reserved for men. Frustrated, she threw her skill and passion into promoting her husband. Ordered by the US Army to map the Oregon Trail, John traveled thousands of miles on horseback, indifferent to his safety and that of the other members of his expeditions. When he returned home, Jessie helped him to shape dramatic reports of his adventures, which were reprinted in newspapers and bound as popular books. Jessie became his political adviser, and a power player in her own right. In 1856, the famous couple strategized as John became the first-ever presidential nominee of the newly established Republican Party. The party had been founded in opposition to slavery, and though both Frémonts were Southerners they became symbols of the cause. With rare detail and in consummate style, Steve Inskeep tells the story of a couple whose joint ambitions and talents intertwined with those of the nascent United States itself. Americans linked the Frémonts with not one but three great social movements of the time -- westward settlement, women's rights, and opposition to slavery. Theirs is a surprisingly modern story of ambition and fame; they lived in a time of globalization, technological disruption, and divisive politics that foreshadowed our own. The Frémonts' adventures amount to nothing less than a tour of the early American soul.
format_category_louisville
Books
format_louisville
Book
id
b5d51fef-5d6e-a35c-b163-123b646e55e6
isbn
9780735224353
itype_louisville
hardcover book
last_indexed
2024-04-25T07:38:56.986Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
local_callnumber_louisville
910.922 INS
owning_library_louisville
Louisville Public Library
owning_location_louisville
Louisville Public Library
primary_isbn
9780735224353
publishDate
2020
publisher
Penguin Press
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Explorers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Frémont, Jessie Benton, -- 1824-1902
Frémont, John Charles, -- 1813-1890
Pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Politicians -- United States -- Biography
Politicians' spouses -- United States -- Biography
Women pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Explorers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Frémont, Jessie Benton, -- 1824-1902
Frémont, John Charles, -- 1813-1890
Pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Politicians -- United States -- Biography
Politicians' spouses -- United States -- Biography
Women pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 19th century
title_display
Imperfect union : how Jessie and John Frémont mapped the West, invented celebrity, and helped cause the Civil War
title_full
Imperfect union : how Jessie and John Frémont mapped the West, invented celebrity, and helped cause the Civil War / Steve Inskeep
title_short
Imperfect union
title_sub
how Jessie and John Frémont mapped the West, invented celebrity, and helped cause the Civil War
topic_facet
Antislavery movements
Explorers
Frémont, Jessie Benton
Frémont, John Charles
History
Pioneers
Politicians
Politicians' spouses
Women pioneers
Women's rights
Explorers
Frémont, Jessie Benton
Frémont, John Charles
History
Pioneers
Politicians
Politicians' spouses
Women pioneers
Women's rights
Solr Details Tables
item_details
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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ils:.b29405646 | .i4524196x | Loveland Adult Nonfiction | 910.922 Inskeep, S. | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Mar 21, 2024 | lvnfa | ||||
ils:.b29405646 | .i45208335 | Longmont Adult Nonfiction | 978.02 INS | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Sep 21, 2023 | lgnfa | ||||
ils:.b29405646 | .i45098517 | Louisville Adult NonFiction | 910.922 INS | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Apr 14, 2024 | lsnfa | ||||
ils:.b29405646 | .i45141204 | Lafayette Nonfiction Area | 910.922 Ins | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Feb 19, 2021 | lanfa | ||||
ils:.b29405646 | .i45208293 | Longmont Adult Nonfiction | 978.02 INS | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Aug 27, 2021 | lgnfa | ||||
ils:.b29405646 | .i45084890 | Broomfield Non-Fiction | 910.92 Fremont | 1 | false | false | On Shelf | Dec 13, 2021 | mdnab |
record_details
Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b29405646 | Book | Books | English | Penguin Press | 2020 | xxix, 449 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm |
scoping_details_louisville
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