Era of Good Feelings

Era of Good Feelings

After the War of 1812, James Monroe was elected the fifth president of the United States in 1816. The Federalist Party died after the Hartford Convention leaving Jeffersonian Republics control, which wasn’t for long after the Corrupt Bargain where Henry Clay convinced the House of Representatives to elect Adams as president and make himself secretary of state. This caused a split in parties, the National Republicans and the Democrats. After Monroe was elected president the time was named the “Era of Good Feelings” mainly because of the spread of nationalism. Others still say that this time was a time of sectionalism which can be well supported and wasn’t a time of good feelings but a time of panic and division. Although both sides of the story can be argued nationalism did not spread more than sectionalism which was much more visible through the states in political, economic, and social aspects.

States over the years have argued over state government and the federal government and the Article of Confederation was a perfect example how the state government does not work. In Document D Maryland questions the authority of the federal government to incorporate a bank. During the McCulloch v. Maryland case Maryland attempted to tax the bank. Maryland got overruled and didn’t get their way. Still it serves as a good example of sectionalism where states are thinking only for themselves and not for the good of the nation. Thomas Jefferson in Document F also claimed that the Missouri Compromise will be divide the United States and obliterate unity. This claim is true considering now that the North and South now compete for more free and slave states. In order for Missouri to become a slave state Maine had to become independent again showing signs of sectionalism the North vs. the South. Signs of nationalism although are seen in Document H. John Q. Adams wrote in his diary about the Monroe Doctrine which warns the Holy Alliance to stay out of the Caribbean and Americas claiming they were the defenders of democracy. The United States did not have the army to back up this bold statement but it was still a bold sign of nationalism and did this for the purpose of controlling commerce in this region and improving the state of the economy.

In fact during this time the economy was not at its greatest. The Panic of 1819 was an economic depression caused by over speculation in the western lands. The National Bank of the United States foreclosed on the loans and many people lost their land and debtors went to jail. The Western Expansion can be seed in Document E where the west is being slowly populated. Most areas do not have a high population density at all proving that this indeed was not an “Era of Good Feelings” considering the fact people and the country was in serious debt. States have also have always been fighting over control of the federal government. The unequal distribution of population decided the amount of representatives sent into congress. The higher the population the higher chances of controlling the government which is another example of sectionalism. John Randolph in Document A complains that the North are benefiting from the tariffs which at the same time has been hurting the South and the South has not been receiving any help whatsoever. Although the tariff was passed for nationalistic purposes to protect American goods and products sectionalism spread when the South began to feel cheated out of this tariff where the North made more money and the South was to remain poor. No signs of “Good Feelings” were present but instead conflicts began to rise.

Undoubtedly, the “Era of Good Feelings” had its social effects in the nation.

Document C shows unity and nationalism in the country where everyone celebrates Independence Day together and happily. On the contrary, although they may be celebrating