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