The Era of Good Feelings

(1816-1825)

The Era of Good Feelings After the War – US experienced

“Era of Good Feelings”: – Extremely popular POTUS– New generation of leaders– Dominance of Republicans– Nationalism – united US– Improved industry & transport

Monroe as PresidentMonroe elected 1816 & 1820 with

a clear set of goals:–Promote national unity –Promote US power in the world

DR dominance of POTUS & Congress – series of new laws

Appointed DRs, Feds, Southerners, Northerners to cabinet; including Sec of

State John Q Adams

The Great TriumvirateBy 1816:

– New leaders shaped era:Henry Clay (KY) :

–Represented “West”–Speaker of the House–Natl econ development–“American System"

to promote industry & markets for farmers

The Great TriumvirateBy 1816:

– New leaders shaped era: John Calhoun (SC):

–Represented “South”–Sec of War; VP–Leading proponent of

states' rights •Nullification

The Great Triumvirate By 1816:

– New leaders shaped era: Daniel Webster (MA):

–Represented “North”–HR; Sec of State–Proponent of

nationalism & strong critic of states' rights

While they did not always agree, this “Great Triumvirate” of Clay, Calhoun, &

Webster enthusiastically supported national economic development

Politics After the War of 1812DRs traditionally represented

limited gov, states' rights, & strict construction

w/o Fed opposition, DRs adopted many traditionally Fed policies:–Natl econ development –Permanent army–Transport improvements

Henry Clay’s American System1816:

–2nd Bank of the U.S. •Stabilize US currency

–Tariff of 1816:•Promote industry•Limit import of GB manufactured goods

–Natl system of roads & canalsUnify North, South, & West

Jefferson let the charter of the 1st BUS expire in 1811

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 John Marshall (CJ 1801-1835)

–Exerted power of the natl gov over states

–Rejected claim that states could check powers of natl gov

–Affirmed loose construction argument of elastic clause

Judicial NationalismDartmouth v. Woodward (1819):

gov’t cannot interfere with contracts between private parties

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): –Congress has powers not stated

in Constitution–Natl laws supreme to state laws

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): interstate commerce is power reserved for natl gov alone

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

Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817): US agreed not to invade CanadaGB agreed not to invade the US

Convention of 1818 set US/Canada border at 49º

Nationalist Foreign PolicyMonroe & JQ Adams turned

attention to acquiring Florida:–FL had become a den of

scoundrels, rogues, and rascals –Jackson ended Indian attacks

on GA from Spanish FL –Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)

•Ceded Florida & Oregon to US

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

Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)

Nationalist Foreign PolicyLatin American nations revolted

against SpainUS supported new republics:

–Euro powers disliked rebellions & tempted to re-conquer them

Monroe Doctrine (1823) told Euros:•Stay out of W Hemisphere•US will not interfere in Europe

US will protect Latin American independence

US will act independently / will protect sphere of influence

Sectionalism in the Era of Good Feelings

Settlement of the Trans-Mississippi

End of War of 1812 unleashed rush of pioneers into west

2nd BUS made credit available for farmers to

purchase land

Many settled in West to escape overpopulation, rising land $, & worn

out soil in the East

Settlement of the Trans-Mississippi

Congress 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 Era of Good Feelings started with

national unitySectional disputes b/w N&S

dominated politics for next 40 yrs–Disagreed over:

•Protective tariffs (esp when cotton prices fell in 1820s)

•Slavery – west terrs & states

Missouri Compromise1817:MO applied for statehood as slave

state / revealed sectional rivalries:–N resented S control of POTUS

& inflated representation in HR–S feared N conspiracy to end

slavery–Equality had been maintained by

alternating admission of “free” & “slave” states added to US

Population growing faster in N – HR favored N

NY rep Tallmadge wanted MO only if state constitution provided for gradual

elimination of slavery

American Slave Population, 1790-1820

Missouri Compromise (1820)MO Compromise (1820):

–MO became a slave state–ME (broke from MA) admitted as

free state–Slavery banned elsewhere in the

LA Purchase above 36°30‘NMO controversy exposed deep rift

between N&S

Missouri Compromise, 1820-1821

ConclusionsThe “Era of Good Feelings” led to:

–An improved American economy–Better transportation–More territory & more clearly-

defined borders–A foreign policy in Latin America–But…sectional problems

between the North & South