Essential QuestionEssential Question::– Which was the more powerful force Which was the more powerful force

during the Era of Good Feelings: during the Era of Good Feelings: nationalism or sectionalism? nationalism or sectionalism?

The Era of The Era of Good Feelings Good Feelings

(1816-1825) (1816-1825)

The Era of Good FeelingsThe Era of Good Feelings

After the War of 1812, America After the War of 1812, America experienced an “Era of Good Feelings” experienced an “Era of Good Feelings” characterized by:characterized by:– An extremely popular presidentAn extremely popular president– The emergence of a 2The emergence of a 2ndnd generation of U.S. generation of U.S.

leadersleaders– Dominance by the Dem - Republicans Dominance by the Dem - Republicans – A surge in nationalism that united the A surge in nationalism that united the

country & improved US industry & country & improved US industry & transportationtransportation

Monroe as PresidentMonroe as President

James Monroe was elected president James Monroe was elected president in 1816 & 1820 with a clear set of in 1816 & 1820 with a clear set of goals:goals:– To promote national unity To promote national unity – To promote America’s power in the worldTo promote America’s power in the world

Republican dominance of the Republican dominance of the presidency & Congress helped push presidency & Congress helped push through a series of new lawsthrough a series of new laws

He appointed Democrats, Federalists, Southerners, Northerners to his cabinet; including Sec of State John Q Adams

The Great TriumvirateThe Great Triumvirate

By 1816, a wave of new By 1816, a wave of new leaders shaped the leaders shaped the antebellum era:antebellum era:Henry Clay (Dem -Henry Clay (Dem -Republican, KY) Republican, KY) – Represented the “West”Represented the “West”– Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House– Proponent of national Proponent of national

economic development economic development

The Great TriumvirateThe Great Triumvirate

John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun

(Dem - Republican, SC):(Dem - Republican, SC):– Represented the “South”Represented the “South”– Sec of War; VPSec of War; VP– He was the nation's He was the nation's

leading proponent leading proponent of of states' rights (he states' rights (he embraced nullification)embraced nullification)

The Great Triumvirate The Great Triumvirate

Daniel Webster (Whig, Daniel Webster (Whig, MA):MA):

– Represented the “North”Represented the “North”

– Congressman; Sec of Congressman; Sec of StateState

– Strong proponent of Strong proponent of nationalism & strong nationalism & strong critic of states' critic of states' rightsrights

Politics After the War of 1812Politics After the War of 1812

The Dem-Republicans traditionally The Dem-Republicans traditionally represented limited gov’t, states' rights, & represented limited gov’t, states' rights, & strict construction strict construction But, without Federalist opposition, the But, without Federalist opposition, the Dem-Republicans adopted many Dem-Republicans adopted many traditionally Federalist policies:traditionally Federalist policies:– National economic development National economic development – A permanent armyA permanent army– Transportation improvementsTransportation improvements– A national university in D.C.A national university in D.C.

Henry Clay’s American SystemHenry Clay’s American System

Henry Clay’s Henry Clay’s American SystemAmerican System in 1816 in 1816 proposed the creation of:proposed the creation of:– The The 22ndnd Bank of the U.S. Bank of the U.S. to stabilize U.S. to stabilize U.S.

currency currency – Tariff of 1816Tariff of 1816 to promote U.S. industry & limit to promote U.S. industry & limit

the importation of British manufactured goodsthe importation of British manufactured goods– A national system of roads & canalsA national system of roads & canals

The “American System” helped unify The “American System” helped unify North, South, & WestNorth, South, & West

1st significant protective tariff in U.S. history

All were proposed by Hamilton & opposed by Republicans in the 1790s

Helped pave the way for future RR construction & western Indian removal

Judicial Nationalism Judicial Nationalism

John Marshall (1801-1835) used the John Marshall (1801-1835) used the Supreme Court to strengthen the Supreme Court to strengthen the power of the national gov’t:power of the national gov’t:– Exerted the power of the national Exerted the power of the national

government over the statesgovernment over the states– Rejected the claim that states could check Rejected the claim that states could check

powers of the national government powers of the national government – Affirmed the loose construction argument Affirmed the loose construction argument

of the elastic clause of the elastic clause

Judicial NationalismJudicial NationalismDartmouth v. Woodward (1819):Dartmouth v. Woodward (1819): gov’t gov’t cannot interfere with contracts between cannot interfere with contracts between private partiesprivate partiesMcCullough v. Maryland (1819):McCullough v. Maryland (1819): Congress possesses powers not Congress possesses powers not explicitly stated in Constitution; explicitly stated in Constitution; Congressional laws are supreme to Congressional laws are supreme to decisions made by the statesdecisions made by the statesGibbons v. Ogden (1824):Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): interstate interstate commerce is power reserved for commerce is power reserved for national governmentnational government

Nationalist Foreign Policy Nationalist Foreign Policy President Monroe & Sec of State JQ Adams developed a nationalist foreign policy agenda

Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817): to avoid conflicts along the Great Lakes, the U.S. agreed not to take Canada & Britain not to invade the U.S

The Convention of 1818 set the US/Canada border set at the 49º

Nationalist Foreign PolicyNationalist Foreign Policy

Monroe & JQ Adams turned their attention Monroe & JQ Adams turned their attention to acquiring Florida:to acquiring Florida:– Andrew Jackson took it upon himself to end Andrew Jackson took it upon himself to end

Indian attacks on Georgia from Spanish Indian attacks on Georgia from Spanish Florida Florida

– Jackson’s military advances & U.S. success in Jackson’s military advances & U.S. success in the War of 1812 helped force the the War of 1812 helped force the Adams-Onis Adams-Onis TreatyTreaty (1819) that ceded Florida & Oregon to (1819) that ceded Florida & Oregon to U.S.U.S.

Also, Spain assumed Florida would eventually be annexed

U.S. agreed to pay Spain $5 million & renounced claims to Texas

Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)

Nationalist Foreign PolicyNationalist Foreign Policy

When Latin American nations revolted When Latin American nations revolted against Spain, the U.S. supported the against Spain, the U.S. supported the new republics:new republics:– European powers disliked these liberal European powers disliked these liberal

rebellions & were tempted to re-conquer rebellions & were tempted to re-conquer them them

– Monroe DoctrineMonroe Doctrine (1823) warned (1823) warned European nations to stay out of the European nations to stay out of the Western Hemisphere & the U.S. will not Western Hemisphere & the U.S. will not interfere in Europeinterfere in Europe

The U.S. will protect Latin American independence

The U.S. will act independently & will protect its sphere of influence

Sectionalism in the Sectionalism in the Era of Good FeelingsEra of Good Feelings

Settlement of the Trans-MississippiSettlement of the Trans-MississippiThe end of the War of 1812 unleashed a rush of pioneers into the western

territories

The 2nd BUS made credit available for farmers to

purchase land

Many settled in the West to escape

overpopulation, rising land prices, & worn-out

soil in the East

Settlement of the Trans-MississippiSettlement of the Trans-MississippiCongress quickly admitted

5 states to the Union:

Louisiana (1812)

Indiana (1816)

Mississippi (1817)

Illinois (1818)

Alabama (1819)

By 1810, 1/7th of the U.S. population lived in the West; By 1840 over 1/3rd lived in the West

Sectional Disputes Sectional Disputes

The Era of Good Feelings started with a The Era of Good Feelings started with a wave of national unity, but sectional wave of national unity, but sectional disputes between the North & South disputes between the North & South emerged & would dominate politics for emerged & would dominate politics for next 40 yearsnext 40 years– Disagreed over the use of protective tariffs, Disagreed over the use of protective tariffs,

especially when cotton prices fell in 1820sespecially when cotton prices fell in 1820s– Disagreed over slavery in the western Disagreed over slavery in the western

territories & statesterritories & states

Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise

In 1817, Missouri applied for In 1817, Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state & revealed statehood as a slave state & revealed U.S. sectional rivalries:U.S. sectional rivalries:– North resented Southern control of North resented Southern control of

presidency & its 3/5-inflated presidency & its 3/5-inflated representation in House of Repsrepresentation in House of Reps

– South feared a Northern conspiracy to South feared a Northern conspiracy to end all slaveryend all slavery

– Equality had been maintained by Equality had been maintained by alternating admission of “free” & “slave” alternating admission of “free” & “slave” states added to the USstates added to the US

Population was growing more rapidly in North, so House of Reps favored Northerners

NY rep Tallmadge wanted Missouri only if its state constitution provided for

the gradual elimination of slavery

American Slave Population, 1790-1820American Slave Population, 1790-1820

Missouri Compromise (1820)Missouri Compromise (1820)

Missouri Compromise (1820):Missouri Compromise (1820):– Missouri became a slave stateMissouri became a slave state– Maine (which broke from Mass) was Maine (which broke from Mass) was

admitted as free stateadmitted as free state– Slavery was banned elsewhere in the Slavery was banned elsewhere in the

Louisiana Purchase above the latitude of Louisiana Purchase above the latitude of 3636°°30'30'

The Missouri controversy exposed a The Missouri controversy exposed a deep rift between North & Southdeep rift between North & South

Missouri Compromise, 1820-1821Missouri Compromise, 1820-1821

ConclusionsConclusions

The “Era of Good Feelings” led to:The “Era of Good Feelings” led to:– An improved American economyAn improved American economy– Better transportationBetter transportation– More territory & more clearly-defined More territory & more clearly-defined

bordersborders– A foreign policy in Latin AmericaA foreign policy in Latin America– But…sectional problems between the But…sectional problems between the

North & South North & South

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Both Both Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton & & John MarshallJohn Marshall were Federalists who believed in a strong were Federalists who believed in a strong national gov’t. Who was more influential in national gov’t. Who was more influential in shapingshaping AmericanAmerican history?history? ExplainExplain

WhichWhich policypolicy willwill bebe moremore importantimportant inin U.S.U.S.

history:history: Monroe’s foreign Monroe’s foreign OROR domestic domestic policy?policy?