The Southern United States

The southern United States is the setting for this novel. County names are used, not specific states, but the racial tensions present in the story make the general area easy to identify.

Freejacks

"Freejack" was the term given to black men who were granted their freedom upon discharge from the the 1812-1815 War against the British. Their freedom was given as compensation for having served the United States under the command of Andrew Jackson. Large groups of freejacks tended to keep to themselves, resulting in the founding of the area known as New Church.

New Church

New Church was the area where Margaret Carmichael was raised.

Wade County

Wade County was the area in which the Howland plantation resided.

Madison City

Madison City was the closest city to the Howland Plantation, and its economy was closely linked to business supplied by the Howland family...