Nationalism and the Era of Good Feelings

Nationalism

• Nationalism is an intense feeling of pride, loyalty and protectiveness towards your country.• After “winning” the War of 1812, a wave of nationalist

feelings swept across the United States• This resulted in a desire to improve the US and make it

self-sufficient.

The American System

• Henry Clay, a nationalist Congressman from Kentucky, proposed a way to unify the country and improve the economy, called the American System:

1. Establish a protective tariff2. Establish a national bank3. Improve the country’s transportation systems

• All of these things would make it easier to make, buy and sell goods in the US

Era of Good Feelings• Nationalism made people loyal to the whole United

States, not just to the state they lived in.• Political arguments faded; in fact, after Monroe (a

Democratic-Republican) was elected in 1816, the Federalist Party disappeared altogether.• National unity was also increased by several Supreme

Court cases that strengthened the federal government.• McCulloch v. Maryland: denied states power over federal

government• Gibbons v. Ogden: ruled only the federal gov’t could

regulate interstate trade• Everyone got along so well that the period is called the

“Era of Good Feelings” (1816-1824)

Monroe Doctrine“Stay out of my sandbox, or else!”

Latin America

• Several countries in Latin America had won their independence from European countries (especially Spain)• Well, those European countries wanted their old territories

back• The U.S. feared that their own government was in danger if this

happened

What it Said

• Monroe said that the Americas were closed to further colonization.• He also warned if European nation tried to get their

land back it would be “dangerous to our peace and safety”• This showed that the United States saw itself as a

world power and protector of Latin America.• Finally, Monroe agreed to stay out of Europe’s affairs

Why It’s Important

1. The US did not have the ability to enforce the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. We were just not strong enough to do it. • Britain backed us up, though.

2. US foreign policy still considers the Western Hemisphere to be our concern, and no one else’s – just like the Monroe Doctrine said.

3. For 90 years, the US pretty much ignored what went on in Europe, just like Monroe promised (isolationism)

Political Cartoon describing the Monroe Doctrine.