Ch+8+Era+of+Good+Feeling

=__An End to Political Opposition__=

Following the failure of the Hartford Convention due to the end of the War of 1812, the Federalists ceased to pose any opposition to the Republican party. The Federalists had been a minority party for many years, having won no national elections since 1796, but up until this point had remained a relatively powerful force in New England. However, the party basically collapsed following the war, meaning that for the first time in its history America had entered a period of true one-party control. This political peace, combined with growing feelings of nationalism, led to the period between 1816 and 1824 being coined "The Era of Good Feelings."

This period is closely tied to the presidency of James Monroe, the last president of the so-called "Virginia dynasty" that had begun with Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Winning the election of 1816 easily, Monroe recognized that the once-strong party divisions within the nation's politics had all but disappeared. Monroe sought to further downplay factionalism by choosing a wide variety of people to serve in his cabinet - his decisions were not biased based on what region of the country his cabinet members came from or what party they had belonged to. Most important was his selection for Secretary of State: John Quincy Adams. The office of Secretary of state had long served as the "stepping-stone" to the presidency, and Monroe's choice of the former Federalist Adams represented an end to both party divisions and the Virginia dynasty.

Monroe also made a statement by taking a goodwill tour across the nation, something that no president since Washington had done. He visited all areas of the nation and was greeted with great enthusiasm wherever he went. Even in New England where a few years earlier the Federalists had been debating secession, he received a very positive response. It was these agreeable attitudes, which crossed both regional and party lines, that prompted a newspaper writer to coin the term "Era of Good Feelings." Monroe ran for president again in 1820 with no opposition, and the period lasted through his second term. In politics at least, the name for these years could be seen as quite accurate.

=__Nationalism__=

Americans had many other reasons for their good feelings besides the agreeable political situation. Several developments in American society prompted growing feelings of nationalism that all Americans could share in. Venerating the founding fathers and their ideals, citizens prided themselves in the history of America's struggle for independence, which could be seen in the elaborate 4th of July celebrations that were so common at the time. Nationalistic government policy and a fast-growing economy only served to bolster these feelings.

Many of the policies of the government at this time reflected the same nationalistic attitudes that were present in common citizens. A group of nationalists in Congress, including such recognizable Congressmen as Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, worked to promote policies that would improve the nation and bring it together, most notably Clay's American System. The foreign policy of the time was also very nationalistic in nature. President Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, stating that the Western Hemisphere was America's sphere of influence and European countries were not to establish new colonies there. Though the government had basically no ability to enforce the Monroe Doctrine at the time, it still served as a statement of American pride and nationalism. The country also continued to gain new territory. John Quincy Adams negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty with Spain in 1819 which ceded all of Florida to the United States. Overall, nationalism served as a powerful force in America during the early nineteenth century.

However, this was not to say that the Era of Good Feelings was without its flaws. In spite of all of the political harmony and national spirit, there were significant undercurrents of sectionalism developing, especially concerning the events in Missouri. In addition, the economy suffered a crisis in response to easy credit and overspeculation of land. The recession that resulted, known as the Panic of 1819, lasted for six years and made a dramatic impact on the American people. Americans became distrustful of the national bank and wary of rapid economic and territorial expansion. For the most part, this time period could be defined by a strong sense of nationalism, but there were also other forces at work.

=External Links=
 * [|Overview of the Era of Good Feelings and Return to a Two-Party System]
 * [|Explanation of Growing American Nationalism]
 * [|Information on the Panic of 1819]

=Sources=
 * //A Survey: American History// by Alan Brinkley
 * Wikipedia - [|Era of Good Feelings]
 * James Monroe Image: [|Wikimedia]
 * Nationalism Image: [|US Coin History]