VISUAL ACTIVITY John and Jessie Frémont Poster The election of 1856 marked the first time a candidate’s wife appeared on campaign items. Jessie Benton Frémont helped plan her husband’s campaign, coauthored his election biography, and drew northern women into political activity as never before. “What a shame that women can’t vote!” declared abolitionist Lydia Maria Child. “We’d carry ‘our Jessie’ into the White House on our shoulders, wouldn’t we.” Museum of American Political Life. READING THE IMAGE: According to the poster, who—John or Jessie—is the better horseperson? CONNECTIONS: In what ways could critics claim that Jesse Fremont violated women’s traditional sphere?