The Year of 1804

Cleared for Planting opens in 1804 with the Cagle family moving to a location near the Linville River in the Appalachian Mountains. As we also begin a new year, I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the main events in 1804. Of course, in their isolated setting, the characters in the novel never hear of most of these.

Jan. 1 - Haiti gained its independence from France.
Jan. 5 - The Ohio legislature passed the first laws restricting the movement of blacks.
Feb. 14 - The first Serbian uprising against the Ottoman Empire occurs.

Feb. 15 - New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery.
Feb. 21 - The first locomotive run takes place in Wales.
Feb. 24 - London's Drury Lane Theatre burns to the ground.
Feb. 25 - Thomas Jefferson is nominated to run for President.
Mar. 26 - Congress orders all Indians east of the Mississippi moved to Louisiana.

Meriwether Lewis

May 14 - Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from St. Louis to explore and plan to reach the Pacific Ocean.
May 18 - The French Senate proclaims Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France.
Jul. 12 - Vice-President Aaron Burr mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
Oct. 2 - Great Britain begins measures to defend against a French invasion.
Dec. 5 - Thomas Jefferson is reelected President.

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