Cover of The Story of the Great Republic by Hélène Adeline Guerber Coming Soon

The Story of the Great Republic

by Hélène Adeline Guerber

7h 6m
Duration
1899
Published
This title is in production and will be available to all active subscribers the day it is released.
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About This Audiobook

The Story of the Great Republic is a children's historical reader that continues the American story from the end of the Revolutionary War, as detailed in her companion volume on the Thirteen Colonies. It begins with the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 where George Washington presided, the ratification debates, and the launch of the new government under President Washington. The narrative covers early challenges like foreign entanglements, domestic unrest, the rise of political parties, the Louisiana Purchase under Jefferson, the War of 1812 (including naval heroism, the burning of Washington, Francis Scott Key's "Star-Spangled Banner," and Andrew Jackson's victories), territorial growth, the Monroe Doctrine, and innovations such as the steamboat and Erie Canal, while profiling key figures and fostering appreciation for the young republic's resilience and expansion.

The book then traces westward movement, sectional conflicts, and national maturation through the Mexican-American War, the California Gold Rush, debates over slavery, and the Civil War era. It vividly recounts Abraham Lincoln's leadership, major battles like Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Union strategies under Grant and Sherman, and the war's end with Lee's surrender, followed by Reconstruction, industrialization, the Spanish-American War (including the Maine, Manila Bay, and Rough Riders), and developments into the early 20th century under presidents like McKinley and Roosevelt. Throughout, Guerber emphasizes heroism, invention, moral lessons, and patriotic pride, using engaging anecdotes to make history memorable and to inspire young readers to value liberty, virtue, and their nation's gradual development into a great power.

Meet the Author
Hélène Adeline GuerberAmerican Educator & Children's Author · 1859 – 1929

Hélène Adeline Guerber, commonly known as H. A. Guerber, was born in 1859 in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Little is documented about her early life and formal education, but she emerged as a prolific writer and historian in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are no known images of her. Hélène dedicated her career to making complex subjects accessible, particularly through lively retellings of myths, legends, folklore, epic poetry, operas, and historical events. Her works targeted general readers and especially younger audiences, blending scholarship with engaging narrative style to popularize cultural and historical knowledge during an era when such topics were gaining broad interest.

Guerber's most enduring contributions lie in her books on mythology and ancient history. Her best-known work, Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas, remains a classic introduction to Norse mythology, drawing directly from primary sources like the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda to recount tales of Odin, Thor, Loki, and the dramatic events leading to Ragnarök. She also authored Myths of Greece and Rome, which similarly synthesized classical myths in an approachable manner. Beyond mythology, she produced a series of historical readers for schoolchildren, including The Story of the Greeks, The Story of the Romans, The Story of the Great Republic, and The Story of the Thirteen Colonies, which presented key events in Western and American history with clarity and narrative flair.

In addition to mythology and history, Guerber explored European folklore and legends in works such as Legends of the Rhine and Legends of Switzerland, capturing regional stories with vivid detail.

Guerber lived much of her later life in Montclair, New Jersey, where she continued her scholarly pursuits until her death on May 26, 1929. Her simple obituary in the local newspaper noted her passing at home. Today she is primarily remembered through her enduring mythological texts—whose clear, enthusiastic prose introduced generations to the epic worlds of Norse, Greek, Roman, and other traditions.

In This Volume
  1. Paideia Introduction2:19
  2. Author's Preface1:28
  3. Hints for Teachers1:02
  4. The Beginning of the United States4:07
  5. Franklin's Return6:42
  6. Troubles After the War5:02
  7. The Constitution8:01
  8. The First President6:39
  9. Washington's Troubles6:29
  10. A Wonderful Invention6:07
  11. Death of Washington8:12
  12. The United States Buys Land7:39
  13. Our War Against African Pirates7:22
  14. Death of Somers4:13
  15. The First Steamboat4:58
  16. The Gerrymander3:47
  17. The War of 18126:45
  18. Don't Give Up the Ship7:36
  19. The Star-Spangled Banner7:33
  20. Clinton's Big Ditch8:18
  21. More Land Bought6:07
  22. Jackson Stories5:57
  23. Jackson's Presidency5:09
  24. New Inventions6:01
  25. Whitman's Ride5:07
  26. The Mormons5:46
  27. The First Telegraph4:42
  28. The Mexican War6:42
  29. The Slavery Quarrel3:55
  30. Daniel Webster's Youth4:18
  31. Webster’s Speeches4:09
  32. Early Times in California3:53
  33. The Discovery of El Dorado3:16
  34. The Rush to California4:05
  35. The Underground Railroad5:09
  36. The First World's Fair6:17
  37. John Brown's Raid5:36
  38. Lincoln's Youth7:59
  39. The First Shot6:33
  40. The Call to Arms5:22
  41. The President's Decision5:34
  42. Admiral Farragut7:06
  43. The Monitor and the Merrimac4:40
  44. The Peninsular Campaign4:37
  45. Barbara Frietchie3:28
  46. Lincoln's Vow4:23
  47. The Battle of Gettysburg4:28
  48. The Taking of Vicksburg6:19
  49. Riots, Raids, and Battles6:17
  50. The Burning of Atlanta4:14
  51. The March to the Sea4:37
  52. Sheridan's Ride4:48
  53. The Doings of the Fleet7:49
  54. Lee’s Surrender4:52
  55. Decoration Day3:34
  56. Lincoln Stories5:34
  57. Lincoln’s Rebukes3:38
  58. A President's Son3:26
  59. A Noble Southerner6:30
  60. Hard Times in the South6:53
  61. The Atlantic Cable7:52
  62. The Best Way to Settle Quarrels7:05
  63. Our Nation's One Hundredth Birthday7:20
  64. Gold for Greenbacks3:31
  65. A Clever Engineer6:40
  66. Death of Garfield6:04
  67. The Celebration at Yorktown3:59
  68. The Great Statue7:09
  69. A Terrible Flood4:34
  70. Lynch Law5:04
  71. The Great White City4:55
  72. The Explosion of the Maine8:11
  73. The Battle of Manila6:32
  74. Hobson's Brave Deed4:33
  75. Surrender of Santiago7:18
  76. The Hawaiian Islands6:14
  77. The Annexation of Hawaii6:34

Chapter-by-chapter navigation and listening progress are available in the member library.

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