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

2. The Era of Good Feelings
“Era of Good Feelings” characterized by:
The emergence of a 2nd generation of U.S. leaders
Dominance by the Republicans
A surge in nationalism that united the country & improved U.S. industry & transportation

3. The Great Triumvirate Henry Clay (Republican, KY) :
Represented the “West”
Speaker of the House
Proponent of national economic development (“American System" to promote industry & markets for farmers)

4. The Great Triumvirate John C. Calhoun (Republican, SC):
Represented the “South”
Sec of War; VP
He was the nation's leading proponent of states' rights (he embraced nullification)

5. The Great Triumvirate Daniel Webster (Whig, MA):
Represented the “North”
Congressman; Sec of State
Strong proponent of nationalism & strong critic of states' rights

6. Politics After the War of 1812
Dem-Repubs policies:
National economic development
A permanent army
Transportation improvements

7. Henry Clay’s American System
1st significant protective tariff in U.S. history
Jefferson let the charter of the 1st BUS expire in 1811
Henry Clay’s American System in 1816 proposed the creation of:
The 2nd Bank of the U.S. to stabilize U.S. currency
Tariff of 1816 to promote U.S. industry & limit the importation of British manufactured goods
A nat’l system of roads & canals

8. Judicial Nationalism
John Marshall ( ) used the Supreme Court to strengthen the power of the national gov’t:
Exerted the power of the national gov’t over the states
Affirmed the loose construction argument of the elastic clause

9. Judicial Nationalism
Dartmouth v. Woodward (1819): gov’t cannot interfere with contracts between private parties
McCullough v. Maryland (1819): Congress possesses powers not explicitly stated in Constitution; Congressional laws are supreme to decisions made by the states
Gibbons v. Odgen (1824): interstate commerce is power reserved for national gov’t
Each case is hyperlinked to to an overview of the case

10. Nationalist Foreign Policy
Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) that ceded Florida & Oregon to U.S.

11. Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)

12. Nationalist Foreign Policy
When Latin American nations revolted against Spain, the U.S. supported the new republics:
Monroe Doctrine (1823) warned European nations to stay out of the Western Hemisphere & the U.S. will not interfere in Europe

13. Sectionalism in the Era of Good Feelings

14. Settlement of the Trans-Mississippi
The end of the War of 1812 unleashed a rush of pioneers into the western territories
Many settled in the West to escape overpopulation, rising land prices, & worn-out soil in the East
The 2nd BUS made credit available for farmers to purchase land

15. Sectional Disputes
Sectional disputes between the North & South emerged & would dominate politics for next 40 years
Disagreed over the use of protective tariffs, especially when cotton prices fell in 1820s
Disagreed over slavery in the western territories & states

16. Missouri Compromise
Population was growing more rapidly in North, so House of Reps favored Northerners
In 1817, Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state & revealed U.S. sectional rivalries:
North resented Southern control of presidency & its 3/5-inflated representation in House of Reps
South feared a Northern conspiracy to end all slavery
Equality had been maintained by alternating admission of “free” & “slave” states added to the US

17. American Slave Population, 1790-1820

18. Missouri Compromise (1820)
Missouri became a slave state
Maine (which broke from Mass) was admitted as free state
Slavery was banned elsewhere in the Louisiana Purchase above the latitude of 36°30'

19. Missouri Compromise,

20. 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