thesis statement for the era of good feelings

The Era of Good Feelings

The Era of Good Feelings (1815–1824) followed the Jeffersonian Era. It was an era of economic prosperity and geographic expansion, driven by the American System and the Monroe Doctrine. The era is closely associated with President James Monroe, the establishment of the Second Party System, the rise of Andrew Jackson, and the rise of Sectionalism. The Era of Good Feelings was followed by the Jacksonian Era.

President James Monroe. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Era of Good Feelings Summary

The Era of Good Feelings was a period in American history that started with unity and nationalism in the wake of the War of 1812 . In 1816, James Monroe , a Democratic-Republican , won a landslide victory against the Federalist candidate, Rufus King, signaling the decline of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the War of 1812. During Monroe’s first term, he traveled the nation, wearing his military uniform from the American Revolutionary War, rallying support for uniting the nation. Monroe’s first term was highlighted by economic growth, but the second term was plagued by Sectionalism, an economic depression, and division within his own political party. Due to the Election of 1824, Andrew Jackson and his supporters became the Democratic Party, ending the Era of Good Feelings and ushering in the Jacksonian Era. 

Era of Good Feelings Facts

• The Era of Good Feelings was a period in American history from 1815 to 1824. It followed the Jeffersonian Era and preceded the Jacksonian Era.
• The Era of Good Feelings was marked by a sense of nationalism and patriotism following the War of 1812 and the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
• The dominant political parties during this time were the Federalists , who favored a strong federal government, and the Democratic-Republicans, who supported a more limited government. However, the time period saw the decline of the Federalists, leaving the Democratic-Republicans as the only true political party.
• President James Monroe played an important role in diminishing the Federalist Party and promoting unity among Americans through his policies and tours across the country.
• The Era of Good Feelings was short-lived, as Sectionalism and the Presidential election of 1824 led to the emergence of new parties division that eventually led to the Civil War.

Era of Good Feelings History and Overview

The Era of Good Feelings started when the Treaty of Ghent went into effect in February 1815, ending the War of 1812. Although the war itself was a stalemate, Americans referred to it as the “Second War for Independence” and celebrated General Andrew Jackson’s victory over British forces at the Battle of New Orleans (January 8, 1815). 

Nationalism and Prosperity Usher in the Era of Good Feelings

For the second time in less than 50 years, The United States had gone to war with Great Britain and held its own. In the aftermath, the nation was filled with a growing sense of pride and nationalism. As a result, Americans looked to raise the profile of the United States on the world stage and looked in a new direction for leadership. 

The Hartford Convention

Near the end of the War of 1812, Federalists — the party of Adams and Hamilton — held the Hartford Convention (1814–1815) . During the Convention, which was largely attended by New England Federalists who opposed the War of 1812, several ideas were discussed — including secession and changes to the Constitution. The Convention was highly controversial and Jackson’s victory at New Orleans made any demands the Convention made a moot point. 

The American System

The Convention is widely viewed as an unpopular, misguided attempt by Federalists that bordered on treason. In the wake of the party’s collapse, the feud with Democratic-Republicans ended, allowing President James Madison and Henry Clay to move ahead and implement the main components of the  “American System” — protective tariffs, building roads and canals to connect the nation, and the establishment of a new national bank.

The first protective tariff was the Tariff of 1816, which added a 25% tax on all wool and cotton goods that were imported into the United States from foreign nations. Unfortunately, the Tariff of 1816 was viewed as detrimental to the South and may have helped suppress the development of manufacturing in those states.

Two of the most well-known infrastructure projects were the construction of the National Road and the Erie Canal . The National Road project started in 1811 in Cumberland, Maryland, and moved westward, following the military road that was opened by the Braddock Expedition during the French and Indian War . Work on the Erie Canal started in 1817 and finished in 1825. Both projects helped connect different parts of the country and helped expand the economy.

The third piece of the system was the Second Bank of the United States, which succeeded the First Bank of the United States . The Federal Government established the bank in 1816 to help stabilize the economy. The bank was given a 20-year charter but quickly created financial issues that contributed to the Panic of 1819.

Monroe Wins the Presidential Election of 1816

James Monroe, a Democratic-Republican, succeeded Madison as President. Monroe easily won the Election of 1816, defeating the Federalist Party candidate, Rufus King. King’s defeat was essentially the end of the Federalist Party.

Monroe’s Goodwill Tour

Following his election, Monroe embarked on a goodwill tour designed to decrease regional divisions that had emerged during the War of 1812. Following Monroe’s visit to Boston, the phrase “Era of Good Feelings” was coined by Benjamin Russell, and first appeared in the Federalist newspaper, Columbian Sentinel, on July 12, 1817.

A Soaring Economy Leads to the Panic of 1819

During the Era of Good Feelings, the American economy experienced a significant boom. However, land speculation was rampant, fueled by the expansion of banking and the creation of the Second Bank of the United States. Cotton prices soared, leading to increased production and economic growth. Unfortunately, the economic boom created challenges. The Panic of 1819 created an economic recession that lasted into the 1820s, causing a decline in economic prosperity.

Sectionalism and the Party System

The beginning of the era brought an end to the Federalist Party and the old First Party System. It allowed Monroe to essentially run unopposed for re-election in 1820 and win the Presidential Election of 1820. However, his last term in office saw the return of political division as the nation expanded geographically and differences rose over slavery and the rights of States. By the end of the era, the division within the Democratic-Republican Party helped shape the Second Party System, bringing an end to the unity that marked the beginning of the Era of Good Feelings.

McCulloch v. Maryland, an Important Decision by the Marshall Court

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) was one of the landmark court cases of the era. In an effort to support state banks, Maryland levied taxes on the Second Bank of the United States. When the Bank refused to pay, Maryland filed a lawsuit in Federal Court. The case made its way to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Marshall . The Supreme Court ruled the Bank had been incorporated by the Federal Government, pursuant to Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution — the “Necessary and Proper Clause.”

The Missouri Compromise Maintains an Uneasy Balance

The Missouri Compromise (1820) became a defining moment for the Era of Good Feelings. The admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state was intended to maintain a balance between the slave states and free states in the Union. However, the debate over the expansion of slavery and the disagreements over the practice foreshadowed the Sectionalism that would shape American politics in the years to come, leading to the Secession Crisis and Civil War.

The United States Establishes the Monroe Doctrine

In 1823, Monroe took action to establish the United States as a leader in the Western Hemisphere by establishing the “Monroe Doctrine.” Monroe warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. The purpose of the Doctrine was to prevent European colonization and the establishment of puppet regimes in the Americas. Although the Doctrine was not well-enforced early on, it became a basic tenet of American foreign policy.

The Election of 1824 Leads to the Age of Jackson

In the Election of 1824, there were multiple candidates for President, including John Quincy Adams , Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay — and they were all Democratic-Republicans. While John C. Calhoun was elected Vice-President, the election for the President went to the House of Representatives. Adams emerged as the winner — and appointed Clay as his Secretary of State. The move enraged Jackson and his supporters, who believed Adams and Clay conspired against them. The Jacksonians called it the “Corrupt Bargain.” The perception of a backroom political deal helped fuel the divide in the Democratic-Republican Party. In 1828, Andrew Jackson won the Presidency, ushering in the Age of Jackson, also known as the Jacksonian Era.

Era of Good Feelings Significance

The Era of Good Feelings is important to United States history because it was the time when the United States started to experience Sectionalism due to slavery, economics, and political parties. Although the time period started on a high note following the War of 1812, it ended in a political division that led to the emergence of Andrew Jackson as a candidate for President.

Era Of Good Feelings Frequently Asked Questions

The emergence of the Era of Good Feelings after the War of 1812 can be attributed to several factors. First, the war marked a sense of national pride and unity among Americans, leading to a surge of patriotic sentiments. The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, further strengthened the nation’s confidence and heightened its nationalism. Additionally, the election of James Monroe as president in 1816, with his message of national harmony, played a crucial role in fostering a sense of unity and optimism in the country.

The Second Bank of the United States, chartered in 1816, had a significant impact on the economy during the Era of Good Feelings. It aimed to create a more stable currency system by regulating the money and credit supply. The bank facilitated economic growth by providing access to credit and promoting sound financial practices. It also helped regulate state banks and stabilize the national economy. However, the bank’s policies, particularly its pursuit of profit, contributed to inflation, speculation, and the eventual Panic of 1819, which resulted in an economic downturn.

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a significant legislative measure aimed at addressing the issue of slavery expansion in the United States. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while admitting Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance of power between free and slave states in the Senate. Additionally, the compromise established the 36°30′ line as a dividing line between free and slave territories within the Louisiana Purchase . North of this line, slavery was prohibited, while south of it, it remained legal. The Missouri Compromise played a pivotal role in temporarily calming sectional tensions but also brought the deep divide over slavery in the United States to the forefront of the political landscape.

The Monroe Doctrine , introduced by President James Monroe in 1823, outlined American foreign policy regarding European involvement in the Western Hemisphere. It stated that the United States would consider any further colonization attempts by European powers in the Americas as acts of aggression. Additionally, the doctrine emphasized non-interference in the existing European colonies in the Western Hemisphere and asserted the United States’ commitment to neutrality in European conflicts. The Monroe Doctrine established a foundation for American hegemony in the Americas, aimed to limit European influence, and became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.

The “Corrupt Bargain” refers to the alleged political deal struck between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay during the Election of 1824. After no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives decided the outcome. Adams announced Clay as his choice for Secretary of State shortly after his victory in the House vote, which angered Andrew Jackson and his supporters. The perceived agreement plagued the Presidency of John Quincy Adams and fueled accusations of political manipulation. It contributed to the rise of Andrew Jackson and the emergence of a more partisan political era, ending the Era of Good Feelings.

The Era of Good Feelings AP US History (APUSH) Overview

This section provides terms, definitions, and Frequently Asked Questions about the Era of Good Feelings, including people, events, and programs. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

Era of Good Feelings APUSH Definition

The Era of Good Feelings refers to a period of relative political harmony and national unity in the United States that occurred from approximately 1817 to 1825. Taking place during James Monroe’s presidency, this era was characterized by a decline in partisan conflicts, with the Federalist Party losing influence. It was a time of economic growth, territorial expansion, and a sense of American nationalism. However, underlying tensions, such as sectional disputes over slavery, led to the emergence of new political parties.

The Era of Good Feelings Explained

This video from Heimler’s History includes an overview of the Era of Good Feelings for the AP US History exam.

Era of Good Feelings APUSH Terms and Definitions

Important people during the era of good feelings.

John C. Calhoun — John C. Calhoun was an American statesman and politician who served as the seventh Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He was a prominent defender of States’ Rights and slavery and played a significant role in the political debates of the early 19th century.

Henry Clay — Henry Clay was an American statesman and political leader who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Secretary of State. Clay, who was a member of the Whig Party, is best known for his role in shaping U.S. foreign and domestic policy in the early 19th century. He is remembered for his advocacy of the American System, a plan for economic development that included a national bank, a protective tariff, and federal funding for infrastructure projects.

Andrew Jackson — Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States , serving from 1829 to 1837. He was a military officer and politician from Tennessee who had a controversial and influential tenure as President. Jackson was known for his strong personality and his advocacy for a more democratic and representative government. He is best known for his role in the Indian Wars of the period and for his support for States’ Rights.

James Madison — James Madison was a Founding Father who played a crucial role in the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution. Serving as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817, Madison is known for his contributions to the War of 1812 and for advocating for a strong central government. He is often referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.”

James Monroe — James Monroe was a Founding Father and the fifth president of the United States , serving from 1817 to 1825. Monroe is best known for his Monroe Doctrine, which asserted U.S. opposition to European colonization in the Americas and established the United States as the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. His presidency was characterized by a period of national unity and economic growth known as the “Era of Good Feelings.”

War of 1812 and the Era of Good Feelings

War of 1812 — The War of 1812 — which some Americans referred to as the “Second War for Independence” — was fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. The war was sparked by a variety of issues, including British interference with American trade and the impressment of American sailors by the British navy. The war was marked by several significant military engagements, including the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of New Orleans. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815, ushering in the Era of Good Feelings.

Battle of New Orleans — The Battle of New Orleans was a military engagement that took place during the War of 1812. The battle, which was fought in January 1815, involved a force of British soldiers and a force of American soldiers led by Andrew Jackson. The American forces were victorious, leaving Americans with a sense they had won the “Second War for Independence.”

Treaty of Ghent (1815) — The Treaty of Ghent was a peace treaty that was signed in December 1814 between the United States and Great Britain to end the War of 1812. The treaty, which was negotiated in the Belgian city of Ghent, established the status quo ante bellum, meaning that the territory and boundaries of the two countries would be returned to their pre-war status. The treaty was ratified by both sides, but it did not take effect until after the Battle of New Orleans, which was fought after the treaty was signed. The United States formally ratified the treaty in 1815.

The American System and the Era of Good Feelings

American System — The American System was a plan for economic development that was proposed by Henry Clay and other members of the Whig Party in the early 19th century. The American System included a number of policy proposals, including the establishment of a national bank, the implementation of a protective tariff, and federal funding for infrastructure projects. The American System was designed to promote economic growth and development in the United States and became an important part of the political platform of the Whig Party.

Second Bank of the United States — The Second Bank of the United States was a national bank chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1816. The bank, which was established to serve as a central bank for the United States, was intended to regulate the national currency and provide financial stability. The bank was controversial, and its charter was not renewed when it expired in 1836, leading to the establishment of a decentralized banking system in the United States.

Erie Canal — The Erie Canal was a canal that was built in the early 19th century to connect the Great Lakes with the Hudson River in New York. The canal, which was completed in 1825, was a major engineering feat and played a significant role in the economic development of the United States. The canal, which allowed for the transportation of goods and people between the East Coast and the Midwest, helped to spur the growth of towns and cities along its route and facilitated the expansion of trade and commerce.

National Road (Cumberland Road) — The National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, was a federally funded road that was built in the early 19th century to connect the East Coast of the United States with the Midwest. The road, which was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1806, was the first major federally funded infrastructure project in the United States and played a significant role in the development of the country’s transportation system.

Nicholas Biddle — Nicholas Biddle was an American financier and political figure who served as the president of the Second National Bank of the United States from 1823 to 1836. Biddle, who was a strong advocate for the bank, played a significant role in shaping the bank’s policies and practices. He is remembered for his role in the controversy surrounding the bank’s charter and for his impact on the financial system of the United States.

Protective Tariff — A protective tariff is a tariff that is imposed on imported goods in order to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. Protective tariffs are designed to make imported goods more expensive than similar domestic products, which can help to promote domestic production and protect domestic jobs. Protective tariffs are a controversial policy tool and are often opposed by those who believe they lead to higher prices for consumers and can lead to trade disputes with other countries.

Robert Fulton and Steamboats — Robert Fulton was an American inventor and engineer who is best known for his development of the steamboat. Fulton, who is credited with building the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont , played a significant role in the development of the steam-powered transportation industry in the United States. His work helped to revolutionize transportation and played a key role in the growth and development of the country.

Tariff of 1816 — The Tariff of 1816 was a tariff, or tax on imported goods, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1816. The tariff, which was one of the first to be imposed by the U.S. government, was intended to protect domestic industries from foreign competition and to provide revenue for the federal government. The tariff was controversial and was opposed by some who believed it would lead to higher prices for consumers.

Events During the Era of Good Feelings

Panic of 1819 — The Panic of 1819 was a financial crisis that occurred in the United States in the aftermath of the War of 1812. The crisis, which was triggered by a number of factors, including over-speculation and a downturn in international trade, led to a widespread economic depression and contributed to the recession that followed.

The Judicial System During the Era of Good Feelings

Implied Powers — Implied powers are powers that are not explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution but are inferred from the broader powers granted to the federal government. Implied powers are a key aspect of the “elastic clause,” also known as the “necessary and proper clause,” which gives Congress the authority to pass any laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its powers and duties. The concept of implied powers has been a source of controversy and debate in American politics, as it has been used to justify a broad range of federal actions and policies.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819 ) — McCulloch v. Maryland was a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1819. The case arose when James McCulloch, the cashier of the Bank of the United States, was sued by the state of Maryland for failing to pay a tax on the bank’s operations. The Court, in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall , ruled that the state of Maryland did not have the authority to tax the Bank of the United States, as it was a federal institution. The decision in McCulloch v. Maryland established the principle that federal law takes precedence over state law.

Dartmouth College v. Woodford (1819) — Dartmouth College v. Woodford was a case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1819. The case arose when Daniel Woodford, the governor of New Hampshire, attempted to revoke the charter of Dartmouth College, which had been granted by the state of New Hampshire. The Court, in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that the charter of Dartmouth College was a contract that could not be impaired by the state of New Hampshire. The decision in Dartmouth College v. Woodford established the principle of the “contract clause,” which protects contracts from being impaired by state action.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) — Gibbons v. Ogden was a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1824. The case arose when Aaron Ogden, a steamboat operator, sued Thomas Gibbons, a rival steamboat operator, for violating a monopoly on steamboat traffic in New York state. The Court, in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that the federal government had the authority to regulate interstate commerce and that the monopoly granted by the state of New York was invalid. The decision in Gibbons v. Ogden established the principle of federal supremacy in matters of interstate commerce.

Slavery During the Era of Good Feelings

Denmark Vesey — Denmark Vesey was an African American slave who planned a slave revolt in the United States in 1822. Vesey, who had purchased his freedom, was a leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was deeply concerned about the plight of enslaved people in the United States. He was arrested and executed for his role in the planned revolt, which was thwarted before it could take place.

King Cotton — “King Cotton” was a slogan used to describe the economic dominance of the cotton industry in the southern United States in the 19th century. Cotton was the main cash crop of the southern states, and it played a central role in the economy and society of the region. The slogan was used to highlight the importance of the cotton industry to the South and the power that it wielded within the region.

Missouri Compromise (1820) — The Missouri Compromise was an agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and established the 36°30′ parallel as the dividing line between slave and free states in the Louisiana Purchase territory. The compromise was seen as a temporary solution to the issue of slavery expansion, but it ultimately contributed to the growing tensions between the North and South that led to the Civil War.

Peculiar Institution — The “Peculiar Institution” was a term used to describe slavery in the United States. The term was often used by defenders of slavery to emphasize the unique nature of the institution in the United States and to suggest that it was not a typical form of slavery. The peculiar institution of slavery was a major cause of conflict in the United States, and it played a central role in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

Slave Codes — Slave codes were laws that governed the lives of enslaved people in the United States. These laws varied from state to state, but they generally served to restrict the rights and freedoms of enslaved people and to reinforce the power of their owners. Slave codes prohibited enslaved people from owning property, learning to read or write, or traveling without permission. They also imposed severe penalties for any perceived violations of the codes, including whipping, branding, and execution. Slave codes were a key aspect of the institution of slavery in the United States and were a major source of conflict between slaveholders and abolitionists.

Politics In the Era of Good Feelings

Two Party System — The Two Party system refers to the political system in the United States in which there are two dominant political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The Two Party System has been a feature of American politics since the early 19th century.

John Quincy Adams and the Corrupt Bargain — John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States , serving from 1825 to 1829. He was the son of John Adams, the second President of the United States. Adams was elected in a highly controversial election in which he lost the popular vote but won the presidency in the House of Representatives. His victory was seen by many as the result of a “Corrupt Bargain” with Henry Clay, the Speaker of the House, and Adams faced significant opposition during his presidency as a result.

Election of 1828 — A presidential election in the United States in which Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, defeated John Quincy Adams, a National Republican, to become the seventh president of the United States. The campaign was marked by harsh personal attacks and political maneuvering, and it is often seen as a turning point in American politics, as it marked the end of the “Era of Good Feelings” and the beginning of the Two-Party system.

First Party System — The First Party System was a political arrangement that emerged in the United States in the late 18th century. It was characterized by the rivalry between the Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. This system shaped early American politics and established the foundation for party-based competition and policy debates.

Hartford Convention — The Hartford Convention was a meeting of Federalist Party leaders that was held in Hartford, Connecticut in 1814. The Hartford Convention was called in response to the perceived failures of the James Madison administration during the War of 1812 and the declining fortunes of the Federalist Party. The Hartford Convention was characterized by a series of debates and discussions about the future of the Federalist Party and the role of the federal government in the United States. The Hartford Convention was seen as a significant moment in the decline of the Federalist Party, and it is often cited as a key factor in the party’s eventual demise. The Federalist Party had been one of the dominant political parties in the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but it began to lose support in the aftermath of the War of 1812 and the Hartford Convention. The party was seen as elitist and out of touch with the needs of the American people, and it struggled to adapt to the changing political landscape of the early Republic. The Federalist Party declined in the years following the Hartford Convention and eventually disappeared from the national stage.

Second Party System — The Second Party System emerged in the United States in the 1820s and lasted until the 1850s. It was marked by the competition between the Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party, which opposed Jackson’s policies. This system saw the rise of national political conventions, mass participation in elections, and intense political campaigning. It also reflected the growing sectional tensions over issues such as slavery, ultimately leading to the Civil War.

Sectionalism — Sectionalism refers to the tendency for regions or sections of a country to have distinct economic, social, and political interests that may conflict with those of other regions. In the United States, sectionalism has often been driven by differences in the economic and social development of different regions of the country. For example, the North and South had very different economies in the 19th century, with the North being more industrialized and the South being more reliant on agriculture. These differences led to conflicts and tensions between the two regions and played a significant role in the development of the U.S. political system.

Virginia Dynasty — The Virginia Dynasty refers to a period in U.S. history in which four of the first five U.S. presidents were from Virginia. The Virginia Dynasty began with Thomas Jefferson , who was the third U.S. president and served from 1801 to 1809. It was followed by James Madison, who served as the fourth U.S. president from 1809 to 1817, and James Monroe, who served as the fifth U.S. president from 1817 to 1825. The Virginia Dynasty ended with John Quincy Adams, who was the sixth U.S. president and served from 1825 to 1829. The Virginia Dynasty is significant because it marked a period of stability and prosperity in the United States, and it is often seen as a high point in the country’s early history.

The Effects of Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion on the Era of Good Feelings

Rush-Bagot Agreement (1817) — The Rush-Bagot Agreement was a treaty signed in 1817 between the United States and Great Britain that established the borders between the two countries in the Great Lakes region and limited the number of armed vessels that each country could maintain on the lakes. The agreement, which was signed by U.S. Secretary of State James Monroe and British diplomat Charles Bagot, was a significant step towards reducing tensions between the two countries and establishing peaceful relations.

Treaty of 1818 (1818) — The Treaty of 1818 was a treaty signed in 1818 between the United States and Great Britain that established the border between the two countries in the Pacific Northwest and established the terms for joint occupancy of the Oregon Country. The treaty, which was signed by U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and British diplomat Richard Rush, was a significant step towards resolving disputes between the two countries and establishing peaceful relations.

Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) — The Adams-Onis Treaty, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty , was a treaty signed in 1819 between the United States and Spain that established the boundary between the two countries in North America. The treaty, which was signed by U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish diplomat Luis de Onis, was a significant step towards resolving disputes between the two countries and establishing peaceful relations.

Foreign Policy in the Era of Good Feelings

Monroe Doctrine (1823) — The Monroe Doctrine was a statement issued by U.S. President James Monroe in 1823 that declared the Western Hemisphere to be off-limits to European colonization and established the United States as the dominant power in the region. The doctrine, which was issued in response to increasing European intervention in the affairs of Latin American countries, was a significant statement of American foreign policy and played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the Americas in the 19th and 20th centuries.

• Content for this article has been compiled and edited by Randal Rust .

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12.1: The Era of Good Feelings

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Marking the end of the War of 1812, the Treaty of Ghent, ushered in an era of heightened nationalism in the United States. Patriotic sentiments ran high as Americans delighted in their “victory” over the British and looked for ways to make their nation even stronger. People all over the country celebrated Virginian James Monroe’s election to the presidency in 1816. Meanwhile, Monroe struck an optimistic tone in his first inaugural address, noting the “present happy condition of the United States” and “the happy Government under which we live.” To further promote the happy condition, he launched a goodwill tour to mend the regional divisions that had grown during the war since the New Englanders never really supported the war. In the postwar euphoria, however, the Republican president even received a warm reception in the old Federalist stronghold of Boston in 1817, prompting a local newspaper to comment on the emergence of an “era of good feelings.” Given his popularity, it came as no surprise to most voters when Monroe won nearly unanimous reelection in 1820.

James Monroe, like many other leaders in the nation’s early years, opposed the development of political parties and believed the nation’s elite should govern the country. They felt the elites better understood what could make the country successful over time, and they could mediate the will of the people. Therefore, Monroe worked to eliminate party politics during his two terms in office. After the ill-timed Hartford Convention in 1814, where delegates from several England states met to draft several Constitutional amendments to weaken the power of the southern states, the Federalist Party faded from the political scene. In the Era of Good Feelings, only the newly christened National Republicans remained. Within this one-party system, Federalists like John Quincy Adams and Republicans like John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay worked to promote a stronger, self-sufficient United States. In the end, however, James Monroe found it as difficult to avoid factionalism as George Washington had in the 1790s. Two major events—the Panic of 1819 and the Missouri Compromise—undermined National Republican unity and paved the way for Andrew Jackson to become a major figure in American life.

Promoting a Nationalist Vision

Even before James Monroe ascended to the presidency, nationally-minded leaders began to think about ways to improve the three sectors of the American economy: agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing. During the War of 1812, the lack of both a national bank to help secure credit to finance the war and a functioning nationwide transportation network to help move troops and goods hindered the effort to defend the country from British attacks. Realizing the potential of the budding market revolution and the interconnectedness of the nation’s postwar economy, a majority of Congress accepted a larger role for the federal government in economic matters. At the same time, the Supreme Court deemed much of the government’s expansion as wholly in line with the Constitution. Finally, the diplomatic corps worked after 1817 to foster trade, to support territorial expansion, and to increase American influence over other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Congressional Nationalism

In 1816, while James Madison was still president, Congress eagerly began to resurrect much of Alexander Hamilton’s economic vision for the country and to adapt it to meet the needs of a growing nation. Led by Henry Clay of Kentucky in the Senate and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina in the House of Representatives, Congress considered proposals for a national bank, a protective tariff, and internal improvements. Supporters believed the program, which Clay labeled the “American System” in 1824, would benefit all regions of the country. The bank would create a more stable currency system by checking the money and credit supply. The tariff would protect nascent American factories from foreign competition, make the nation less dependent on foreign trade, and raise additional revenue for the government. Finally, internal improvements would allow raw materials and finished goods to move around the country at a faster pace.

To many nationally-minded leaders, addressing the banking issue was of prime importance because the war and its aftermath suggested the potential problems of unregulated currency. As the market revolution took hold, the practice of bartering tapered off. Banks allowed people to purchase goods and services with their notes as opposed to the often cumbersome gold or silver coins (i.e., specie). In 1811 Congress refused to recharter the Bank of the United States, claiming it exceeded what was a necessary power of the government. After the demise of the national bank, the number of state banks began to rise precipitously.

During the war, financial problems pushed most state banks to suspend specie payments (meaning note holders could not exchange paper currency for its equivalent in coin). Since there was no expectation of convertibility, banks issued currency well in excess of the amount of specie they possessed. It became increasingly difficult to determine the real value of the currency in circulation; furthermore, state banks showed no indication they planned to resume specie payments after 1815. Many people feared the speculative bubble would burst; to those concerned, the best way to prevent an economic downturn was to create a new national bank.

James Madison sent a message to Congress requesting it consider a proposal for a national bank in 1816. Five years before, questions about the constitutionality of such a venture derailed the recharter effort, but after the War of 1812, few people mentioned such considerations in the debate about the new bank because the fight with the British convinced many American leaders of the necessity of supporting economic development. Members voted to charter the Second Bank of the United States (the “BUS” or the “bank”) for a period of twenty years. Under the terms of the charter, the government would deposit government funds in the bank, accept the bank’s notes as payment for government transactions, and buy one-fifth of the bank’s stock. The bank, a private corporation, agreed to transfer Treasury funds without charge, to allow the federal government to appoint five of the bank’s twenty-five directors, and to pay the government a fee of $1.5 million. The BUS could open branches anywhere it saw fit; therefore, its notes became the only currency accepted all over the country. It could also demand the state bank notes it accepted be redeemable in specie, a policy which could help curb inflation.

After settling the banking question, John C. Calhoun, with the backing of Henry Clay, pushed Congress to consider implementing an openly protective tariff (import tax). Calhoun and Clay saw the tariff as having two functions: protecting manufacturers from foreign competition by making it costprohibitive for consumers to buy anything other than American made goods and providing the government the revenue necessary to fund internal improvements.4 The potential for uneven economic benefits had, in previous years, prevented Congress from enacting the tariff. Opponents of the tariff maintained that while the commercial sector would benefit from protection, the agriculture sector would suffer. Protected industries would see their profits increase, while farmers would find it more difficult to sell raw materials on the international market and more expensive to purchase goods in an uncompetitive market. Thus, a small segment of the American population would gain at the expense of the rest of the population.

Although Calhoun and Clay worried about the reaction of frontier farmers who traditionally opposed federal taxes, they persevered in their effort to increase the tariff rate. They convinced enough members of both chambers to support the Tariff of 1816, which set the rate at 20 percent for most goods and 25 percent for textiles. As with the bank, the war provided the impetus for this measure. With foreign trade virtually cut off by the British blockade, it became apparent to most Americans that some measure of self-sufficiency in manufactured goods was important. Even delegates in western and southern states, usually hostile to tariffs, could see the connection between manufacturing and commercialized agriculture.

Finally, Congress took up the question of internal improvements—by far the most controversial issue on the nationalist’s agenda. Federal support for roads, canals, and other transportation improvements would help develop the nation’s economic capacity by cutting the costs and time of shipping raw materials to markets and manufactured goods to consumers. Moreover, rising revenues from federal land sales and tariffs provided the government surplus revenue to fund such ventures. In late 1816, Calhoun and Clay supported the Bonus Bill, designed to use the revenue from the Second National Bank to fund internal improvements. The question of the constitutionality of the measure, specifically that it might not be a necessary function of the government, colored the debate.

While National Republican leaders secured enough votes to pass the bill, James Madison vetoed it shortly before leaving office. Although Madison had bent his strict constructionist views to support the bank, he told Calhoun he would not do the same for internal improvements. The outgoing president suggested introducing a constitutional amendment that would give the government the power to fund improvements. Once in office, James Monroe did encourage Congress to adopt an amendment for funding roads and canals. However, Henry Clay, convinced that Congress already had the power to fund improvements, prevented the consideration of an amendment. Thus, internal improvements became the purview of the state governments. Some wholly embraced the development of a transportation network, while others seemed reluctant to commit funds to such projects in the 1820s and 1830s.

Judicial Nationalism

In 1801, John Adams (in one of his final acts as president) appointed John Marshall, his fellow Federalist, to head the nation’s top court; he hoped to protect his party’s nationalist agenda after he left office. During the Jefferson and Madison years, the Supreme Court worked to establish itself as the authority over constitutional matters at the federal level in Marbury v. Madison (1803) and at the state level in Fletcher v. Peck (1810). However, the chief justice thought the time was not right to decide major constitutional questions on the “necessary and proper” clause as it related to government support for economic development. Only in the Era of Good Feelings did Marshall and the associate justices issue a series of decisions strengthening the role of the federal government and bolstering the turn toward manufacturing and commercial agriculture.

The first major decision addressing these issues, Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819), related to the sanctity of contracts. During the colonial era, Dartmouth received a royal charter to conduct its business in New Hampshire; however, in 1816 the state legislature passed a law to convert the private college into a public university by granting the governor the right to appoint a new Board of Trustees. After the state implemented the change, the old trustees sought to reverse the statute. Their case made it to the Supreme Court. Daniel Webster, an alumnus of Dartmouth, made an impassioned plea to the justices about how the college, like all corporations, should be protected from shifts in the public mood. The majority opinion in favor of the college suggested that the government could not modify (or regulate) corporate charters or other contracts once issued without the consent of both parties.

The second major decision, McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), related to the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States. The state of Maryland decided to tax the bank at a high rate in an effort to give preference to state chartered banks. The BUS refused to pay, prompting the state to file a suit in federal court in an effort to collect the taxes. The Marshall Court sided with the bank, not with the state. Their decision noted “that the act to incorporate the Bank of the United States is a law made in pursuance of the constitution, and is a part of the supreme law of the land.” Moreover, the justices indicated a state did not have the power to impede the legitimate actions of the federal government. In making its decision, the Supreme Court finally weighed in on the “necessary and proper” clause by supporting the concept of implied powers.

The third major decision, Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), related to the interstate commerce. After Robert Fulton invented the steamboat in 1807, New York state legislature granted Fulton and Robert Livingston exclusive control over ferry traffic on the Hudson River for twenty years. As such, they had the right to grant permits to any ferry operator they chose. They granted a permit to Thomas Gibbons but not to Adam Ogden to transport passengers and freight across the river. Thus, Ogden sued Gibbons to challenge his monopoly of the ferry traffic. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court because it involved traffic going from New York to New Jersey. The Marshall Court deemed the New York monopoly law “repugnant” to the Constitution since the power to regulate commerce between two or more states went to Congress, not the individual states.

Collectively, these three decisions suggested the federal government had a rightful role to play in promoting economic development. Dartmouth College v. Woodward suggested the government could not legitimately regulate private businesses, which encouraged free enterprise in the United States. McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden supported a broad interpretation of the federal government’s power in relation to the states.

Diplomatic Nationalism

While Congress and the Supreme Court promoted economic development, John Quincy Adams, James Monroe’s secretary of state, sought to formulate an imperial rhetoric for the United States that fit with the president’s nationalism. Skilled in diplomacy during his father’s administration, Adams believed in the unique virtue of the United States, in the necessity of remaking the world in the American image, and in the nation’s God-given right to expand. Based on his beliefs, the secretary of state (with the president’s blessing) sought to promote foreign trade, to pursue continental expansion, and to lessen the influence of European powers in Latin America.

In the wake of the War of 1812, both Great Britain and the United States sought ways to improve their relationship, largely because the war settled none of their differences. The British reached out to the Americans to address issues not resolved in the Treaty of Ghent; their effort led to several agreements that brought long-term peace between the two nations. The Rush-Bagot Agreement of 1817 demilitarized the Great Lakes region; the Congress of 1818 provided for American fishing rights off the coast of Canada, restricted British travel on the Mississippi River, ended British trade with the Indians in the Louisiana Purchase, and set the boundary between the United States and Canada at the Rocky Mountains. The Anglo-American rapprochement also tacitly gave American shippers the protection of the British Navy in the Atlantic. Thus, the Americans could spend less on their own navy and devote those resources to other projects. The agreements improved foreign trade and helped both nations improve their economic health.

The American government had long wanted to acquire Spanish Florida (a haven for runaway slaves), and members of the Monroe administration were no different. During the War of 1812, the Americans had seized West Florida (the panhandle). After the war, Andrew Jackson—in his attempt to quell the Indians in the Southeast—took American forces into Spanish-controlled East Florida under dubious circumstances. Rather than apologize for Jackson’s violation of Spanish territorial integrity, Adams used the incident to put pressure on the Spanish foreign minister Don Luis de Onís to return to the negotiating table. In 1819, with the Adams-Onís Treaty, the United States took control of Florida in exchange for $5 million. Spain relinquished its claim to Oregon, and the United States renounced, at least temporarily, its claim to Texas. The treaty helped pave the way for further expansion across the continent.

Spain’s reluctance to complete an agreement with the United States over Florida stemmed from its fear of losing control over its entire New World Empire. Since the turn of the century, a series of revolutions had shaken Latin America. The United States seemed both sympathetic to these revolutions and concerned about the ability of the new republics to maintain their independence. As a show of support, the Americans opted to recognize the revolting governments as a means to undercut European influence, to assist commerce, and to nominally encourage the growth of republicanism. By the early 1820s, American leaders feared the possibility that even if Spain could not regain its hegemony, other European powers might try to expand their influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Initially, Monroe considered issuing a joint declaration with the British pledging to protect the fledgling governments in Latin America. However, Adams convinced him that the United States should chart its own course. In his annual message to Congress in 1823, the president outlined the Monroe Doctrine. Adams, who drafted the statement, believed the Americans had to make a forceful statement suggesting that future European colonization would not be welcome in the Western Hemisphere. Moreover, since American and European political systems were different, neither side should meddle in the affairs of the other. Most Americans praised the doctrine for its assertion that the United States was unique among nations. Few people realized their government would have found it difficult to back up the Monroe Doctrine had the Europeans challenged its provisions.

Retreat from Nationalist Tendencies

During the Era of Good Feelings there was only one political party; however, differences of opinion on the role of the federal government never completely disappeared. Most national leaders believed the government should serve the interests of the common good, but they disagreed on what exactly the common good meant. The Republicans had never spoken with one voice. Moderates tended to support the same programs to promote commercial development as the Federalists. Radicals, or Old Republicans, opposed any talk of loose construction, preferring a very limited federal government. By 1820, an economic crisis and a debate on slavery in the territories underscored existing differences within the National Republican coalition.

Panic of 1819

The market revolution created a remarkable amount of economic growth in the United States as commodity prices rose after the war. Simultaneously, inflation and speculation also increased. State banks issued notes in excess of their reserves and made somewhat risky loans. When Congress chartered the Second Bank of the United States, supporters hoped its policies would lead to deflation. The bank’s Board of Directors, like most Americans during this era, found the opportunity to make money too appealing. Rather than working to limit the amount of money in circulation, their policies only led to more inflation and speculation. Furthermore, Congress had hoped to make the United States more self-sufficient through the bank and the tariff. To some extent, those measures achieved their goal, but the American economy was never completely divorced from the European economy. If anything, the market revolution made the American business cycle more sensitive to the world market.

After 1815, rising prices had encouraged the inflation and speculation, but most financial experts realized any excessive demand for specie could destabilize the entire credit system. In late 1818, the Second Bank of the United States shifted from an inflationary policy to a deflationary policy to stave off a drop in their specie reserves. It began to demand repayment of outstanding loans, and it required state banks to convert their notes held by the BUS to specie. The BUS clearly acted to save itself. In the process, it brought ruin to numerous state banks and, in turn, the American people. International developments compounded the American credit problems. The American speculative boom had rested on the expectation that commodity prices would continue to rise, but they began a steep decline in 1819 as Europe recovered from the Napoleonic Wars, lessening their need for American foodstuffs. Moreover, pent-up European demand for cotton had caused the price to rise after 1815. English manufacturers then began to look for a cheaper source from which to obtain raw cotton, causing a collapse in the American market. Finally, European nations adopted the gold standard, leading to a drain on world gold reserves. The combined domestic and international problems caused the Panic of 1819 and a subsequent depression in the United States.

During the panic, American cities faced the direst circumstances, but farmers far from commercial centers also felt the strain. Around 500,000 urban residents could not find work. For example, in Philadelphia approximately 75 percent of workers remained idle. The number of paupers rose dramatically as did the numbers of debtors imprisoned for nonpayment. People who owned their own homes faced foreclosures, and those who did not own homes stopped believing they someday could. Rural landowners, even those considered well off, struggled to pay back their debts when banks called in their loans. For example, in Nashville the number of reported bankruptcies reached 500 in 1819 alone. Throughout the crisis, the BUS avidly pushed its debtors to repay their outstanding loans, leading to more business failures, more property seizures, and more unemployment. Across the nation, popular protest became common. Some debtors called for “stay laws” to provide more time to pay back their creditors. Others sought the abolition of debtor’s prisons. Finally, many voters sought to reduce state and federal expenditures in order to cut the people’s tax burden. It would take several years for the economy to recover, and those harmed by their creditors never lost their suspicion of financial institutions, which they thought did more damage than good for the American economy.

Missouri Compromise

In the years after the Revolutionary War, states in the North, inspired by the egalitarian sentiments of the fight for independence, began to rethink the merits of bound labor. By the mid-1780s, all northern states had ended slavery or had made plans to end slavery in their states. At the same time, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the territories north of the Ohio River. Some northerners thought the South would turn away from slavery as well. Manumission (freeing slaves on an individual basis) was not unheard of in the years immediately following the revolution. However, after the invention of the cotton gin, most southern states committed themselves to maintaining slavery. Moreover, as the nation expanded westward, so too did slavery, especially in areas where cotton grew well. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana all joined the union as slave states. Through the years, the country maintained a balance of slave and free states in the Senate by chance more than anything else; however, the free states had an advantage in the House of Representatives because more people lived in the North than the South.

In 1819, the sectional balance nearly came unhinged when Missouri petitioned to become the first state carved out of the unorganized portions of the Louisiana Purchase. As a territory, Missouri had allowed slavery and would continue to do so as a state. Amidst concerns about an uneven balance in the Senate, James Tallmadge—an anti-slavery representative from New York—introduced a measure designed to prohibit slavery in Missouri and provide for the gradual emancipation of the 10,000 slaves living there. While Tallmadge feared the expansion of slavery, most members of Congress expressed more concern about the balance of power in the national government. Rufus King, in support of the Tallmadge Amendment, attacked the morality of slavery, suggesting laws protecting slavery went against the “law of God.” However, Old Republicans distrusted the motives of the Old Federalists who seemed to want to use the debate to revive their party. King and other former Federalists had long opposed the boost in representation the slave states received because of the “three-fifths” rule allowed them to count slaves toward their total population. Forcing Missourians to free their slaves would cut southern political power. Ultimately, the House opposed statehood for Missouri unless accompanied by the Tallmadge Amendment, while the Senate supported it. As the end of the congressional session approached in March, no decision had been made.

Led by Speaker of the House Henry Clay, nationally-minded leaders hoping to avoid disunion worked toward an agreement as the new Congress gathered in December. The resulting Missouri Compromise (Compromise of 1820) brought Missouri in as a slave state and Maine in as a free state, since Maine had petitioned for independent statehood shortly after Missouri. To soothe northern concerns about the expansion of slavery, the compromise also included the Thomas Proviso (named for Jesse Thomas of Illinois) that banned slavery north of the southern boundary of Missouri, the 36°30’ line, for the rest of the land within the Louisiana Purchase.

Both sides believed they managed to divert a major crisis. Southerners, however, thought they had won a major victory with the Missouri Compromise. Although the vast northern regions of the Louisiana Purchase would bar slavery, most people assumed no one would settle in the “Great American Desert.” From his home in Virginia, however, Thomas Jefferson worried about the compromise. In a letter to John Holmes, the former president predicted the growing divisions on the question of slavery might be “the knell of the Union” because “the angry passions of men, will never be obliterated; and every new irritation will mark it deeper and deeper.”

Corrupt Bargain

By James Monroe’s second term, divisions about economic development and the expansion of slavery were setting the stage for the presidential election of 1824. Meanwhile, Martin Van Buren, an upstate New York lawyer and politician, took a seat in the United States Senate in 1821. As a senator, he hoped to develop a strong political party to promote a limited government. In an age where more white men gained the right to vote because many states abandoned property qualifications for voting, he quickly realized the role public opinion played in the political system. While the nation’s founders seemed to think political parties served no lasting purpose, Van Buren saw them as a necessary function of government and as a means to draw power away from privileged insiders. Seeking out other likeminded politicians, he began to dwell on how to use the election in 1824 to build a solid political organization committed to Jeffersonian principles such as a strict construction.

Most people expected James Monroe would support John Quincy Adams, his secretary of state and son of a former president, for president in 1824. However, Monroe said nothing about his choice of a successor, which left Van Buren control over the Congressional Caucus and the party’s nominee. At Van Buren’s behest, the National Republicans nominated William H. Crawford, the secretary of treasury from Georgia, known for his support of states’ rights. To Van Buren, Crawford’s southern roots could help build a regionally balanced political party. Fearing their constituents more than Van Buren, many Republicans failed to show up for the caucus vote. Therefore, more candidates entered the race, including John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson. Each candidate appealed to voters in their home region, but it seemed unclear if any could develop nationwide support. John C. Calhoun also considered running, but he opted to be the only nominee for vice president.

In many ways, the election of 1824 was the battle of the favorite son candidates. Adams polled well in New England, Crawford and Jackson split the South, and Clay and Jackson split the West. Jackson led in the popular (42 percent) and Electoral College (38 percent) votes, but he did not have the needed majority in the Electoral College. Per the Constitution, the House of Representatives would choose from the top three candidates— Jackson, Adams, and Crawford. Jackson assumed the House would choose him; he did not expect that Clay, the Speaker of the House, would actively work to deny him the presidency. Clay did not think Jackson had the necessary qualifications to be president. On the other hand, Adams and Clay shared many of the same principles on the government’s role in economic development. In the end, Adams won thirteen states to Jackson’s seven.

Just days after the voting in the House, Adams announced Clay was to serve as his secretary of state. What seemed normal politics to Adams and Clay seemed to the defeated Jackson a sure sign the two men had conspired to steal the presidency. Not one to be slighted easily, Jackson frequently complained about the “corrupt bargain.” While little evidence surfaced to suggest Clay had in fact made a blatant deal with Adams by giving his support in the House vote for a position in the cabinet, the prevailing rumors made it quite difficult for Adams to govern effectively. Once in office, Adams set out to complete the National Republic agenda, which only confirmed the opposition’s suspicions.

In his first message to Congress, the new president outlined a grandiose plan for national development, including support for roads, canals, a national university, and a national astronomical observatory, among others. He also suggested Congress support such programs for the “common good” regardless of what their constituents thought best.19 Most members of Congress found Adams slightly audacious for even making the proposal, as it seemed contrary to what the people wanted. In the recent election, more voters chose Jackson and Crawford with their calls for a smaller government than Adams or Clay with their calls for a larger government. Adams lacked the political skill to implement much of his program. As a result, Congress never acted on any of his proposals.

After the War of 1812, patriotic feelings ran high in the United States, leading to the emergence of the Era of Good Feelings. During this time of one-party rule, American leaders worked to promote a stronger, self-sufficient United States. Congress chartered the Second Bank of the United States and approved a protective tariff. The bank created a more stable currency system by checking the money and credit supply. The tariff protected American factories from foreign competition, raised additional revenue for the government, and theoretically made the nation less dependent on foreign trade. The Supreme Court issued a series of decisions designed to enhance the power of the federal government and support economic development. These decisions, Dartmouth College v. Woodward , McCulloch v. Maryland , and Gibbons v. Ogden , supported a broad interpretation of the federal government’s role in relation to the states and to economic development. Finally, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams developed foreign policy that protected American rights in the Western Hemisphere, especially with the Monroe Doctrine. Although political divisions faded from view, the president could not eliminate differences of opinion about the role of government. The Panic of 1819, the Missouri Compromise, and the “corrupt bargain” all suggested that a new era of partisan politics would soon emerge because economic, social, and political concerns continued to divide the American people. The expansion of democratic sentiment helped bring Andrew Jackson to the forefront of those developments.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Which of the following did not represent the government’s nationalist tendencies in the Era of Good Feelings?

• Second Bank of the United States
• Tallmadge Amendment
• Tariff of 1816
• Gibbons v. Ogden

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

The Panic of 1819 increased the American people’s faith in the Second Bank of the United States.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

As a result of the “corrupt bargain,”

• Henry Clay’s plans for economic development were defeated.
• John Quincy Adams became president.
• the protective tariff rate increased.
• Congress approved the Monroe Doctrine.

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In the aftermath of the War of 1812 the United States entered what’s been coined as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The timeline of the Era of Good Feelings lasted from roughly 1815 to 1824, though some would argue it was much shorter than that.

With the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 and the stunning American victory at the important Battle of New Orleans , the nation experienced a surge in nationalism. The victory restored national honor, despite an overall disappointing war that resolved little with Great Britain.

The end of the war also coincided with the collapse of the Federalist party. The disastrous Hartford Convention of 1814 aided in the Federalists’ demise and the party largely ceased to exist in national politics after 1816.

The Federalist departure led to the election of James Monroe in 1816 and effectively established what is considered to be the only national one-party situation in American history. This type of situation has never since been seen on a national level and only rivaled in individual states.

Monroe’s policies and demeanor helped bring about this Era of Good Feelings. However, lurking just behind the scenes were bitter conflicts over sectionalism, slavery, tariffs, public land policy, internal improvements, and more.

While the one-party system may have seemingly brought about the appearance of national unity, the cracks were already forming for the eventual split of the Democratic-Republican party and the beginning of the Second party system marked by the contentious “corrupt bargain” election of 1824.

What was the Era of Good Feelings?

A period of harmony.

The Era of Good Feelings is often taught as a period of harmony that followed the War of 1812, included James Monroe’s presidency, and coincided with the one-party dominance of the Democratic-Republicans. The era is generally considered to end following the “corrupt bargain” in the election of 1824.

James Monroe in particular abhorred political parties and believed them to be a threat to the Constitution and nation. He tried his best to completely eliminate any political party and base federal action on the will of the populace. 1

Monroe actively refused to allow any person affiliated with the dwindling Federalist party a position in his cabinet to further alienate them from society. If everyone was a Democratic-Republican, the nation could move forward in unity—or so he thought.

The resulting one-party situation was the most complete in United States history. It also led to some unintended consequences such as voter turnout reaching perhaps its lowest point in history. If the outcome is already known, why bother to participate and vote? 2

Despite their one party majority, it’s interesting to note that Democratic-Republicans maintained many Federalist policies such as renewing the national bank . 1

The Era of Good Feelings is largely defined by the post-war euphoria and increased nationalism. James Monroe won two elections virtually unopposed, one of which (in 1820) he won nearly unanimously. His inaugural speech that year called for “order and harmony” and expressed hope for the future of the nation. 3

A Boston newspaper coined the term “Era of Good Feelings” in 1817 following Monroe’s visit to the city. The visit was part of a larger good-will tour of the nation that Monroe embarked on in both 1817 and 1819 to help unify the nation and honor veterans from the American Revolution and important War of 1812 .

While all was seemingly well for a time, dangerous tensions lingered in the background.

Era of Good Feelings Timeline

Below features a timeline of the Era of Good Feelings.

1814 – The Hartford Convention of 1814 occurs where Federalist delegates meet to discuss grievances on the ongoing War of 1812. The convention is a disaster and often associated with treason. It helps lead to the decline of the Federalist party in national politics.

1815 – The Treaty of Ghent is ratified, ending the war of 1812. The US victory at the Battle of New Orleans sparked national pride at having decisively defeated a major British force. General Andrew Jackson gains national celebrity status.

1816 – James Monroe decisively wins the election of 1816 over Federalist nominee Rufus King. This election would be the last time a Federalist candidate is nominated for President. Congress enacts the Tariff of 1816 which becomes the first protectionist tariff in US history.

1817 – James Monroe embarks on a good-will tour of the nation. He primarily focuses on visiting Federalist-dominated New England to reconcile differences and drum up future support. A Boston newspaper coined the term “Era of Good Feelings” to describe the national attitude.

1818 – The significant Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 and Treaty of 1818 is signed with Great Britain fixing the border at the 49th parallel. Contractionary fiscal policy from the national bank pops an inflationary bubble fueled by land speculators and loose lending practices, leading to the Panic of 1819 .

1819 – The Panic of 1819 grips the nation. It is the first major economic depression since the Constitution and involved economic hardship including bankruptcies and foreclosures. Popular opinion turned against banking and businesses.

Spain and the United States sign the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 where Spain ceded control of Spanish Florida to the United States.

The Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland reaffirms that federal power is supreme over state power and expanded federal powers via implied powers.

1820 – James Monroe wins reelection in 1820 running virtually unopposed. He carried all states and all but one electoral vote due to a faithless elector. Monroe himself considered his nearly unanimous election to be a vindication of his policies, though it may rather have come from voter indifference.

Congress signs the important Missouri Compromise of 1820 after a contentious debate in Congress. The compromise allows Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state alongside Maine as a free state but excludes slavery in the future from territories north of the 36° 30’ parallel.

1822 – Authorities capture and execute Denmark Vesey over an alleged planned slave uprising. The event helps contribute to stronger pro-slavery attitudes in the south.

1823 – Monroe issues the historic Monroe Doctrine , dictating American foreign policy for years to come. The doctrine issues a warning against European colonization in the Americas and held that any intervention was considered a threat to the United States.

1824 – The election of 1824 leads to the fracturing of the Democratic-Republican party when four separate candidates run for office and receive electoral votes. John Quincy Adams eventually wins in the “corrupt bargain,” which spells an end to the Era of Good Feelings.

The Supreme Court decides the case of Gibbons v. Ogden , an important ruling on the federal governments role in interstate commerce.

A question often considered by historians is whether the Era of Good Feelings deserves its name or not. Most would agree that the label is an ironic misnomer.

It is a popular myth in American history that the one-party system led to a political vacuum where everyone got along and all was harmonious. 4

At the national political level, there indeed was little competition and Monroe enjoyed wide support. However, Monroe turned a blind eye towards seemingly minor squabbles over slavery and tariffs and would later watch as they engulfed the nation into disarray and disunion. 1

The mishandling of the Panic of 1819 as well as the fiery debates over the Missouri Compromise foreshadowed the primary national issues of the coming decades. These events certainly did not show national unity and these took place right in the middle of the “Era of Good Feelings.”

The issue of sectionalism also was slowly beginning to show its divisiveness in American politics, especially as the US continued to expand westward. Monroe misinterpreted his near-unanimous reelection in 1820 as unity, rather than indifference.

Even within the Democratic-Republican party, relationships crumbled. The lack of a unified opponent led to a breakdown in the Jeffersonian ideals that formed a basis of the party principles as the sole political party became synonymous with many different political opinions. 5

Without Federalists to oppose, Democratic-Republicans squabbled over other issues, eventually driving a wedge in the party.

By 1824, four separate candidates ran under the Democratic-Republican party, largely split along sectional lines.

How did the Era of Good Feelings End?

The Era of Good Feelings formally ended with the contentious election of 1824 and fracturing of the Democratic-Republican party. It can also be argued that the era ended as early as 1820 with the bitter debates over slavery in the Missouri Compromise.

Even as James Monroe gave his inaugural address in 1820 some politicians were already formulating plans for the 1824 election along the lines of factionalism that would doom the Democratic-Republican party. 3

In the key states of New York and Pennsylvania, voters already began splitting apart following charismatic leaders. In New York it was the “Clintonians” behind Governor DeWitt Clinton, and the “Bucktails” following Senator and future President Martin Van Buren.

Pennsylvanians were split more along economic grounds with varying sections of the populace favoring protectionist tariffs, while others opposed them based on their regional economy. 1

In addition, the west increasingly had a stronger voice in national politics whose interests often differed greatly from the northeast and south. Henry Clay of Kentucky was a strong voice in pursuing an “ American System ” and was often critical of Monroe’s policies. 4

By 1822, the legislature in Tennessee already nominated former military hero Andrew Jackson as a presidential candidate. The nation was moving on from the Monroe administration.

Jackson’s ascent helped spell the end of the Democratic-Republican party with the rise of the modern Democratic party under Jacksonian principles .

While Monroe’s presidency certainly saw one party dominate national politics, the underlying conflict begs the question of whether there truly ever was an “Era of Good Feelings.”

To learn more about US history, check out this timeline of the history of the United States .

1) Klein, Philip S. “THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING IN PENNSYLVANIA.” Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies , vol. 25, no. 4, Penn State University Press, 1958, pp. 410–17, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27769839 .

2) Sydnor, Charles S. “The One-Party Period of American History.” The American Historical Review , vol. 51, no. 3, [Oxford University Press, American Historical Association], 1946, pp. 439–51, https://doi.org/10.2307/1840108 .

3) SPANN, EDWARD K. “THE SOURING OF GOOD FEELINGS: JOHN W. TAYLOR AND THE SPEAKERSHIP ELECTION OF 1821.” New York History , vol. 41, no. 4, New York State Historical Association, 1960, pp. 379–99, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23153651 .

4) Lerche, Charles O. The William and Mary Quarterly , vol. 9, no. 3, Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1952, pp. 456–58, https://doi.org/10.2307/1917006 .

5) Phillips, Kim T. “Democrats of the Old School in the Era of Good Feelings.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , vol. 95, no. 3, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1971, pp. 363–82, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20090571 .

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Era of Good Feelings

The seemingly placid era masked underlying problems

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The Era of Good Feelings was the name applied to the period in the United States corresponding with the term of President James Monroe , from 1817 to 1825. The phrase is believed to have been coined by a Boston newspaper shortly after Monroe took office.

The basis for the phrase is that the United States, following the War of 1812 , settled into a period of rule by one party, the Democratic-Republicans of Monroe (which had their roots in the Jeffersonian Republicans). And, following the problems of the administration of James Madison, which included economic problems, protests against the war, and the burning of the White House and Capitol by British troops, the Monroe years seemed relatively placid.

And Monroe's presidency represented stability as it was a continuation of the "Virginia dynasty," as four of the first five presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, had been Virginians.

Yet in some ways, this period in history was misnamed. There were a number of tensions developing in the United States. For instance, a major crisis over the practice of enslavement in America was averted by the passage of the Missouri Compromise (and that solution was, of course, only temporary).

The very controversial election of 1824 , which became known as "The Corrupt Bargain," brought an end to this period, and ushered in the troubled presidency of John Quincy Adams .

Enslavement as an Emerging Issue

The issue of enslavement was not absent in the early years of the United States, of course. Yet it was also somewhat submerged. The importation of African captives had been banned in the first decade of the 19th century, and some Americans expected that enslavement itself would eventually die out. In the North, the practice was being outlawed by the various states.

However, thanks to various factors including the rise of the cotton industry, enslavement in the South was becoming more entrenched. As the United States expanded and new states joined the Union, the balance in the national legislature between free states and states that allowed enslavement emerged as a critical issue.

A problem arose when Missouri sought to enter the Union as a state that allowed enslavement. That would have given such states a majority in the U.S. Senate. In early 1820, as the admission of Missouri was debated in the Capitol, it represented the first sustained debate about enslavement in Congress.

The problem of Missouri's admission was eventually decided by the Missouri Compromise (and the admission of Missouri to the Union as a state that practiced enslavement at the same time Maine was admitted as a free state).

The issue of enslavement was not settled, of course. But the dispute over it, at least in the federal government, was delayed.

Economic Problems

Another major problem during the Monroe administration was the first great financial depression of the 19th century, the Panic of 1819 . The crisis was prompted by a fall in cotton prices, and the problems spread throughout the American economy.

The effects of the Panic of 1819 were most deeply felt in the South, which helped exacerbate sectional differences in the United States. Resentments about the economic hardship during the years 1819–1821 were a factor in the rise of Andrew Jackson's political career in the 1820s.

• Biography of James Monroe, Fifth President of the United States
• U.S. Legislative Compromises Over Enslavement, 1820–1854
• American Civil War: Causes of Conflict
• The Compromise of 1850 Delayed the Civil War For a Decade
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
• The Road to the Civil War
• The U.S. Presidents and Their Era
• Bleeding Kansas
• Top 10 Things to Know About James Monroe
• The Election of 1824 Was Decided in the House of Representatives
• Early American Presidents
• American History Timeline 1851–1860
• Slavery in 19th Century America
• The Crittenden Compromise to Prevent the Civil War
• The Founding of the Republican Party
• Top 9 Events That Led to the Civil War

era of good feelings

era of good feelings, period in U.S. history (1817–23) when, the Federalist party having declined, there was little open party feeling. After the War of 1812 all sections were anxious to return to a normal life and to forget political issues. The phrase was coined at the time of President Monroe's good-will tour through the North, including New England, where a President had not been seen since the Virginia “dynasty” came into power. Under the surface, however, vast sectional issues were shaping themselves, and personal rivalries also were gathering strength to break loose in the campaign of 1824.

See G. Dangerfield, The Era of Good Feelings (1952, repr. 1963).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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The Era Of Good Feelings Essay Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: United States , War , Politics , President , Slavery , Emotions , Bible , America

Published: 01/10/2020

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Historians label the period after 1812 as the era of good feelings in the US. In their argument, this is a period during which the country enjoyed peace and tranquility. There were no much quarrels or disagreements between the people of America. To some extent, this can be taken to be true but if the overall picture is highlighted, then it occurs that the era of good feelings was actually a creation of the historians and something that never actually existed in America. Below is a deeper analysis and discussion of this era.

After the war of 1812, many people had the feelings that America should not have gone into war because it did little to change the face of America, though it helped retain the status quo. However, it is worth remembering that it is at this time that the Republicans were controlling the presidency and the congress. Through their own political program and the assistance of Henry Clay, they passed what was known as the American System. The description of this tariff included federal support for internal improvements, and protection of new industries. It also involved renewal of the national bank and the building of roads and bridges. These ideas were not so far from what the Federalists advocated for.

The president was also committed to the same course of bringing unity or nationalism in the US. President Monroe’s sought to reconcile the political parties, which made the term ‘era of good feelings’ also apply to his term in office. The leaders and many other people were talking of nationalism. The identity of America was being redefined anew. It looked as if the country was set for a period of total peace.

However, things did not turn out as expected and the period of good feelings soon came to an end. It so happens that in 1819, the Marshall’s Court passed rules which gave strong powers to the government. This did not sit well with many people, especially the Federalist Party which was a defunct. On another front, new states were becoming part of the US. These included Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri. However, this brought about a new challenge. Some of the states wanted to go on with slave trade while others did not. This condition made it quite hard for the nationalist movement to go on. It was so bad that the state of Missouri had to compromise through the Missouri Compromise. At the end, the states were divided where there were 11 slave states and 11 non-slave states. This was already a sign that there was a kind of division. At the same time, there were wars in Europe. However, through the Monroe Doctrine, the US vowed not to get involved in their affairs. This is because the US did not want to get into problems. However, it was eventually pulled into it since there war some states which wanted to be involved.

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Nationalism

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Nationalism v. Sectionalism “Era of Good Feelings”

The era commonly referred to as the “era of good feelings” took place following the War of 1812 and was marked by a notable surge in nationalistic sentiment within the United States. It commenced in 1816, shortly before Monroe assumed the presidency, and continued until his term concluded in 1824. Prior to this time frame, a series of occurrences paved the way for its emergence, including the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase from France that effectively doubled the nation’s size.

Through the acquisition, the US gained independence and kept its distance from other nations, further dividing the country. Additionally, the implementation of the Embargo Act of 1807 halted trade with Britain to demonstrate self-sufficiency. Despite the negative consequences, this decision fostered patriotism among many citizens. Overall, the War of 1812 played a crucial role in leading up to the Era of Good Feelings.

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The British intercepting American ships and the subsequent war declaration by the Americans caused a surge of nationalism in the United States. This was the second time the United States resisted Britain, and this victory further strengthened nationalist sentiments. Consequently, advancements arose within the country. With the start of the Era of Good Feelings, nationalism started to gain traction nationwide, although sectionalism continued as a contrasting viewpoint.

Nationalism served as the beginning of the era, laying the foundation for new developments which were influenced by its perspectives and ideologies. These developments gradually became more akin to sectionalism. Nonetheless, it was sectionalism that significantly impacted the economy and politics of the period. Notably, factors like slavery and the Missouri Compromise, Monroe Doctrine, foreign policy, Panic of 1819, the emergence of national banks, and tariffs form the sectionalistic viewpoints that ultimately shape the economic and political landscape of the time.

Despite sectionalism being a significant influence on the United States, it is essential to acknowledge the presence of nationalism during this period. The Federalist Party, which strongly opposed the War of 1812, faced instability as a result. Consequently, the Democratic-Republican Party experienced significant growth and ultimately overtook the Federalist Party, becoming the sole party during the Era of Good Feelings. The Democratic-Republican Party prioritized the rights of the people and successfully fostered a stronger sense of national unity.

An instance of this directly results in the sudden emergence of a stronger desire for gender equality among women. Women like Emma Hart Willard sought to leverage this newfound opportunity to advocate for increased rights for women. They upheld the belief that, during this era, women should possess equivalent rights to men and have the ability to actively defend their rights (Document c). The colonists appear to display an excessive level of confidence in their country, asserting that the United States, regardless of the circumstances, is always in the right (Document A). As a consequence, nationalism began to ignite the minds of numerous citizens.

Nationalistic poetry is one example of the emerging patriotism that is being developed, with many authors writing about our country’s flag and its symbolism (Document B). As nationalism grows throughout the nation, sectionalism also begins to rise. The North and South regions of the U.S. start to recognize and emphasize their distinct differences in terms of economy and structure. This becomes especially evident with the introduction of the Missouri Compromise, as pointed out by Jefferson (Document G). Particularly in relation to slavery, sectionalism becomes more concentrated in the South. The economic growth of the South relies heavily on agriculture, with slavery becoming a natural necessity. Cash crops like cotton flourish in the South and require a large workforce to sustain its production.

During the late 1700’s, slavery was in decline and the cotton industry was struggling. But with the introduction of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, slavery became a pressing issue again, fueling the resurgence of the cotton industry. In 1820, Missouri sought to join as a slave state, creating tension and division across the nation. This was due to an existing equilibrium between free states and slave states that would be disrupted by Missouri’s addition. To resolve this conflict, a compromise called the Missouri Compromise was ultimately agreed upon.

The Missouri Compromise led to the acceptance of Missouri as a state that allows slavery and Maine as a state that does not. It established a separation between states permitting slavery and those prohibiting it, with the dividing line located below Missouri for slave states and above for free states. John Quincy Adams endorsed this compromise, aiding in the advancement of sectionalism. In document F, he expressed his perspective on completely eliminating slavery, recognizing its moral righteousness but also acknowledging its contribution to widening the divide between the Northern and Southern regions.

He believed that instead of allowing Missouri to join the Union, amendments should be made to abolish slavery. Despite knowing that this would upset other states, he believed that secession would ultimately be the solution. This marked the beginning of political sectionalism. Another significant division between the North and South was economic in nature. The predominantly agricultural South opposed taxation and tariffs. The American System, championed by Henry Clay, implemented tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing and stimulate economic growth. (Document E) The South opposed these tariffs as they were thriving economically with their cotton production and viewed the tariffs as an added tax burden on shipping. They saw the tariff as an assault on their way of life rather than a benefit to the entire nation, which led to its greater support in the middle and northern states rather than the South. (Document H) The American System also gave rise to a new national bank due to the expiration of the previous bank’s charter.

The new nation bank had a goal to reduce the debt caused by the Louisiana Purchase. However, in the case of Maryland v. McCulloch, Marshall’s Court made decisions that negatively impacted the national bank’s reputation and popularity. This led to a decrease in the economy by 1818, causing panic to arise. To combat this, the bank increased interest rates and reduced available funds. As a result, there was deflation in the U.S. currency which triggered the Panic of 1819. The National Bank was held responsible for these actions, further dividing the country. Additionally, the implementation of new tariffs sparked a need for self-improvement, particularly in transportation. The North recognized the benefits of these internal improvements for their growing manufacturing sector. The American system aimed to generate revenue specifically for investing in these internal improvements.

During the Era of Good Feelings, sectionalism became apparent in discussions about funding for new improvements. Some argued that the states should be responsible for providing funds (Document D), while others believed it was a task too big for them and should be handled by the national government. Despite sectionalism’s increasing influence on the economy and politics, there were still signs of nationalism, especially in matters related to foreign policy.

In 1823, during the Era of Good Feelings, James Monroe released the Monroe Doctrine as a communication to European nations. It conveyed that the United States would no longer meddle in their matters and prohibited any future colonization attempts in America. In return, the United States promised to refrain from involvement in European affairs. This statement fostered a feeling of American nationalism, as they began seeing themselves as a dominant power in the western hemisphere.

During the lead-up to the 1824 election in America, sectionalism was increasingly causing damage. The shortcomings of James Monroe’s presidency had become apparent, giving rise to a new party system where four candidates competed for office. However, as no candidate achieved a majority vote, it fell upon the House of Representatives to decide. This decision angered Andrew Jackson and his followers because Henry Clay, who was Speaker of the House, supported Adams becoming president. As a result, Adams assuming office in 1824 led to unresolved problems from the Era of Good Feelings greatly impacting the nation.

Nationalism had a significant impact on society during this time, which resulted in the dissolution of the Federalist Party and influenced foreign policy through the Monroe Doctrine. Additionally, it inspired nationalistic arts and concepts. However, it is important to acknowledge that nationalism alone does not fully explain the era’s economy and politics. Sectionalism also played a major role in these aspects, as seen in events like the Missouri Compromise, debates over slavery, the invention of the cotton gin, and tariffs being implemented. Ultimately, these contrasting sectional perspectives and actions will contribute to internal conflict within America.

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Era of Good Feelings Dbq

During the Era of Good Feelings, Nationalism and Sectionalism were both evident. However, sectionalism was the most important cause of disagreement within the country with the controversy over Missouri’s admission as a slave state, and the different views toward states’ rights throughout various sections of the country. When Missouri applied to become part of the union, they insisted on being a slave state. This upset the north due to their interest in a balance of power.

The Missouri Compromise was enacted with the help of Henry Clay in order to come to a conclusion to the political arguments between the North and South. It stated that in order for Missouri to be accepted as a slave state, Maine would come into the union as a free state. Also, slavery wasn’t to be permitted north of latitude 36? 30’. The long retired Thomas Jefferson expressed his alarm to the happenings in American government by comparing the sectional disunity to a “fire bell in the night [that] awaked and filled me with terror. (Document G) John Quincy Adams also stated that “If the union must be dissolved, slavery is precisely the question upon which it ought to break. ” (Document F) By simply drawing a line to determine boundaries of slavery, it was inevitable that neither side would be completely satisfied in the long run. Sectionalism was also evident through economical differences between the North and South. The South’s growing agricultural society relied heavily on slavery.

Inventions such as Eli Whitney’s cotton gin increased production of cotton vastly, and in return brought more slaves. In the North however, industry was the main priority. Many goods were manufactured in the North and transferred to the South for use in fields. When the Tariff of 1816 which taxed goods manufactured in the North was passed, nearly all southerners voted against it (Document H}. As disagreements arose, the idea of sectionalism continued to expand. The so called “Era of Good Feelings” faced problems of factional disagreements.

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Sectional divisions were merely covered up by the unity of political parties during Monroe’s presidency. Although the parties seemed united, Eastern Republicans disagreed with the idea of internal improvements, which was a big part of Henry Clay’s “American System. ” On the other hand, John C. Calhoun supported the idea of internal improvements (Document D), but later became a leading advocate for state’s rights. Also, the Election of 1824 caused the Democratic Republican Party to splinter.

John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were both members f the same party, but ran against each other due to disagreements based on their different sectional interests such as their view on protective tariffs. This destroyed the sense of national unity amongst the government, thus further establishing sectionalism. In closing, although the Era of Good Feelings seemed to be as era of national unity, the opposite was proven true. Examples such as the Missouri disagreements and the separation of the Democratic Republican party prove that sectionalism was evident. The difference of economic beliefs of the North and South ensured further conflict in the future.

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Are You Feeling Good?

In 1817, james monroe became the 5th president of the united states. he was the fourth president from virginia. his presidency from 1817-1825 is known as the "era of good feelings." but was it really your task is to learn all you can by reading what is on this page and following the various links, be sure to click on each picture to see if there is a link you will work as a team to make a t-chart to help you decide if it was or was not a correct label for the time period. one person in the group should be the recorder, while the others serve as researchers. you will be turning this t-chart in along with a group thesis statement answering the question - to what extent was the era of good feelings an accurate label for the time period you only have this class period with chromebooks so you better work fast.

Following the War of 1812, Americans began to see themselves more as Americans and not just citizens of their states. With the death of Federalist Party and one political party, America seemed united. The decline in economic and political dependence on Europe also fostered a sense of pride. Americans felt free as they expanded further west. The American System designed by Henry Clay was supposed to unite the three regions of America (west, east and south). However, many cases of sectionalism played out during this time period.

The Tallmadge Amendment was a proposal that no more slaves would be brought to Missouri and that children of slaves would receive gradual emancipation. The South saw this as a threat.

Following the death of the Federalist Party in 1816, there was one single party for a long time. The Democratic Republicans were in complete control. James Madison and then James Monroe both easily won the presidency. However, in 1824, four different candidates from the same Democratic Republican party ran for president. While Andrew Jackson won the popular and electoral vote, he did not have a majority and thus the election went to Congress. What resulted was the election of John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, in what became known as the " Corrupt Bargain ."

During the Era of Good Feelings, Secretary of State James Monroe negotiated several treaties with foreign nations that expanded the size of the US. These included the Rush-Bagot Treaty, Convention of 1818 and Adams-Onis Treaty . In addition, he is responsible for setting foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere through the Monroe Doctrine .

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