The Era of Good Feelings (1816-1825)

1. The Era of Good Feelings (1816-1825)

2. 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

3. Monroe as President • Monroe 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

5. The Great Triumvirate • By 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

6. The Great Triumvirate • By 1816: • New leaders shaped era: • John Calhoun (SC): • Represented “South” • Sec of War; VP • Leading proponent of states' rights • Nullification

7. The Great Triumvirate While they did not always agree, this “Great Triumvirate” of Clay, Calhoun, & Webster enthusiastically supported national economic development • By 1816: • New leaders shaped era: • Daniel Webster (MA): • Represented “North” • HR; Sec of State • Proponent of nationalism & strong critic of states' rights

8. Politics After the War of 1812 • DRs 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

9. Henry Clay’s American System All were proposed by Hamilton & opposed by Republicans in the 1790s • 1816: • 2nd Bank of the U.S. • Stabilize US currency • Tariff of 1816: • Promote industry • Limit import of GB manufactured goods • Natl system of roads & canals • Unify North, South, & West 1st significant protective tariff in U.S. history Jefferson let the charter of the 1st BUS expire in 1811 Helped pave the way for future RR construction & western Indian removal

10. Judicial Nationalism • John Marshall (CJ 1801-1835) • Exerted power of the natlgov over states • Rejected claim that states could check powers of natlgov • Affirmed loose construction argument of elastic clause

11. Judicial Nationalism • Dartmouth 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 natlgov alone

12. Nationalist Foreign Policy President Monroe & Sec of State JQ Adams developed a nationalist foreign policy agenda Convention of 1818 set US/Canada border at 49º Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817): US agreed not to invade Canada GB agreed not to invade the US

13. Nationalist Foreign Policy • Monroe & 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

14. Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)

15. Nationalist Foreign Policy US will protect Latin American independence • Latin American nations revolted against Spain • US 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 act independently / will protect sphere of influence

17. Sectionalism in the Era of Good Feelings

18. Settlement of the Trans-Mississippi Many settled in West to escape overpopulation, rising land $, & worn out soil in the East End of War of 1812 unleashed rush of pioneers into west 2ndBUS made credit available for farmers to purchase land

19. Settlement of the Trans-Mississippi By 1810, 1/7th of the U.S. population lived in the West; By 1840 over 1/3rd lived in the West Congress quickly admitted 5 states to the Union: Indiana (1816) Illinois (1818) Alabama (1819) Mississippi (1817) Louisiana (1812)

20. Sectional Disputes • Era of Good Feelings started with national unity • Sectional 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

21. Missouri Compromise Population growing faster in N – HR favored N • 1817: • 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 NY rep Tallmadge wanted MO only if state constitution provided for gradual elimination of slavery

22. American Slave Population, 1790-1820

23. 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‘N • MO controversy exposed deep rift between N&S

24. Missouri Compromise, 1820-1821

25. Conclusions • The “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