“ERA OF

GOOD

FEELINGS”

Darwin BugayongSandotKeano

Anthony

1817-1825

&

What is the Era of

Good Feelings?

The Era of Good Feelings was a period in United

States political history in which partisan bitterness

abated. It lasted approximately 1816-1824, during

the administration of U.S. President James Monroe,

who deliberately downplayed partisanship.

James Monroe

THESIS STATEMENT

The Era of Good Feelings opened the door for new beginnings regarding the

emergence of sectionalism and nationalism. However, it also introduced problems

for the nation and its future.

Document 1 “The political bitterness declined because the

Federalist Party had largely dissolved after the fiasco of the Hartford Convention in 1814, and President Monroe avoided partisan criteria in handing out patronage and appointments. The Era of Good

Feelings started in the euphoric moment after the Americans claimed victory in the War of 1812.

National pride, and a nationalist spirit, surged in the wake of victories over the British invaders. In the

Election of 1820 Monroe was re-elected with near unanimity.”

Document 2“After the Panic of 1819 and the Missouri

Compromise of 1820, the national mood grew more tense. However, the relentless daily bitter attacks by

one party against the other did not resume until about 1828. Before 1820, the Democratic-Republican

Party members of Congress had met in caucus and decided on the party's presidential candidate. That system collapsed in 1824 as four men competed:

John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson.”

DOCUMENT 3

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

DOCUMENT 4

“As the president of the so-called era of good feelings, Monroe had won the

respect of many Federalists, and it was only in Philadelphia that his re-

election was seriously opposed.”

DOCUMENT 5 “It concluded almost a quarter of a century of

troubled diplomacy and partisan politics and ushered in the Era of Good Feelings. It marked the

end of the Federalist party but also vindicated Federalist policies, many of which were adopted by

Republicans during or after the war. The war also broke the power of American Indian and reinforced

the powerful undercurrent of Anglophobia that had been present in American culture since the

Revolution.”

DOCUMENT 6

MISSOURI

COMPROMISE

YES YES

DOCUMENT 7 Even though the war stimulated nationalism, it was an important

benchmark in the history of American sectionalism. New England Federalists were determined to insulate themselves from the war. In order to retain control over their militia and obstruct war measures, they resurrected the states’ rights doctrine that Virginia Republicans

used. President Madison echoed an old Federalist plea by calling for preparedness. “Experience has taught us,” he said, “that a

certain degree of preparation for war is not indispensible to avert disasters in the onset, but affords also the best security for the

continuance of peace.” Congress Agreed. Congress launched a far-reaching program to fortify the coast, appropriating almost $8.5

million for this purpose between 1816-1829.

YES THIS DOCUMENT SUPPORTS!

Document 8

NOPE!

NO!NAHH!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Hickey, Donald R., The War of 1812 University of Illinois: John C. Frediksen 1985 [Document 7]• Moore, Glover. The Missouri Contoversy 1819-

1821: University of Kentucky: Margaret Woorhies Haggin Trust [Document 4]

• Hickey, Donald R., The War of 1812 University of Illinois: John C. Frediksen 1985

[Document 5]

• “Era Of Good Feelings, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_of_Good_Feelings [Document 1]

• “Era Of Good Feelings, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_of_Good_Feelings [Document 2]

• “Era Of Good Feelings Comic,” Era Of Good Feelings, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_of_Good_Feelings [Document 3]

• “Missouri Compromise,” http://www.google.com/ [Document 6]

• “Era Of Good Feelings,” http://www.google.com/ [Document 8]