John C. Frémont Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pathfinder of the West

Frémont took the first of his four major expeditions in 1842. His second followed in 1844 when he went to the Oregon Territory. In 1845 he went to California. The information gathered by Frémont on his early expeditions was published by Congress and used by thousands of travelers seeking a new home "out west".

His wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, also took the information about his trips, enhanced the stories and after editing them, made them available for newspapers to publish. Her narratives became extremely popular, making Frémont a household name. Members of the press dubbed the adventurer the "Pathfinder of the West".

Answer: Kit Carson

Carson left his Missouri home at the age of sixteen and went out west where he became a successful trapper. Sixteen years later he returned to Missouri to bring his daughter to live with relatives. While on a Missouri River steamboat he met Frémont, learned about his plans to map and explore the west and offered him his expertise.

His service as Frémont's guide made Carson famous as well. He became the subject of many books, movies, songs and comic books over the years.

Answer: Manifest Destiny

The term "Manifest Destiny" was reportedly first used by a journalist in "The United States Magazine and Democratic Review" in 1845. The term was soon adopted by other periodicals and politicians who held the view that the United States should control the entire North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Frémont's father-in-law, Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, was a vocal leader in this movement and used his influence to place his son-in-law in the position of making the expeditions and to have Congress publish the findings.

Answer: Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to military discipline

After the Mexican War ended Commodore Robert Stockton of the US Navy appointed Frémont military governor of California. In August of 1846, 8 months after Frémont was appointed governor, General Stephen Watts Kearny of the US Army arrived saying he had orders from President James K. Polk to serve as governor. Frémont refused to give up the governorship.

After a year of haggling over who was governor Kearny had Frémont arrested. The trail, held in Washington, DC, became a media circus with most of the media and his powerful father-in-law, Senator Benton, supporting Frémont.

The popular explorer was eventually convicted of mutiny and disobedience. Angrily Frémont resigned his military commission and returned to California as a private citizen where he became wealthy during the Gold Rush.

Answer: Republican

Frémont's popularity along with his strong antislavery position made him a favorite of the newly formed Republican Party. In the convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Frémont beat out Supreme Court Justice John McLean. Frémont lost in the general election to James Buchanan getting 33% of the popular vote and winning 11 of the 31 states (114 Electoral votes). Buchanan won 19 states (174 Electoral votes) and 45% of the popular vote. Millard Fillmore of the American (Know Nothing) Party won 22% of the popular vote and won the state of Maryland (8 Electoral votes). Frémont lost in every Southern state and he lost his home state of California.

Answer: Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men and Frémont

The Republicans adopted then adapted the slogan used by the Free Soil Party in the 1848 and 1852 elections. Their slogan was "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men". In the 1856 election the Republican Party added the words "...and Frémont" to the slogan to promote their nominee as an antislavery candidate.

Answer: He proclaimed freedom to all Confederate owned slaves living in Missouri

Frémont's emancipation plan was considered reckless by Lincoln fearing that it would force border states to side with the Confederacy. The President asked Frémont to modify his order but he refused. After being dismissed many Americans came to the defense of the popular Frémont, including famous publisher and editor Horace Greeley who publicly criticized Lincoln for being soft on the slavery issue. Lincoln's reported reply was, "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it."

Answer: He was a staunch Democrat

Benton was one of Frémont's biggest supporters. In fact he used his influence as senator to help his son-in-law gain the approval to go on his many expeditions and furiously defended him during court proceedings levelled against him. However the Missouri Senator was a lifelong Democrat and (at that time) a proponent of slavery and therefore refused to publicly endorse Frémont's bid to become president.

However, Benton did change his mind about slavery in around 1850.

Answer: Arizona

During the California Gold Rush Frémont became a wealthy man but lost most of his fortune in 1873. In 1878 President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed the near destitute man governor of Arizona. His wife Jessie Benton also helped support the family by writing a series of successful books about their life and adventures. Frémont died in 1890 in New York City.

Answer: He was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame

The National Cowboy Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was created to celebrate and preserve Western history, art and culture. It opened in 1955. Frémont was inducted in 2000 and was recognized for his exploration of what would become the Western United States.