From French Community to Missouri Town

Ste. Genevieve in the Nineteenth Century

By: Bonnie Stepenoff

Narrated by: Michelle Williams

A small French settlement thrived for half a century on the west bank of the Mississippi River before the Louisiana Purchase made it part of the United States in 1803. But for the citizens of Ste. Genevieve, becoming Americans involved more than simply acknowledging a transfer of power.

Bonnie Stepenoff tells how French and Spanish residents—later joined by German immigrants and American settlers—made necessary compromises to achieve order and community, forging a democracy that represented different approaches to such matters as education, religion, property laws, and women’s rights. By examining the town’s historical circumstances, its legal institutions, and especially its popular customs, she shows how Ste. Genevieve differed from other towns along the Mississippi.

The story of Ste. Genevieve serves as a testament to Tocqueville’s observations on American democracy while also challenging some of the commonly held beliefs about that institution. From French Community to Missouri Town provides a better understanding not only of how democracy works but also of what it meant to become American when America was still young.

The book is published by University of Missouri Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2006 The Curators of the University of Missouri (P)2025 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A fascinating and welcome community study...highly readable..." (Missouri Historical Review)

"An important book...a useful account of the blending and clashing of cultures." (Annals of Iowa)

"Clearly written and intellectually revealing...makes a valuable addition to scholarship...." (Louisiana History)