Era of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a significant period in American history that followed the War of 1812, spanning from 1815 to the mid-1820s. Marked by a sense of optimism and national unity, this era is closely associated with President James Monroe, who was elected in 1816. His presidency saw the decline of the Federalist Party, leading to the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party and a shift in the political landscape. The period was characterized by substantial economic growth, the establishment of the Second National Bank, and the introduction of protective tariffs to alleviate national debts.
Monroe's goodwill tours and his articulation of the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted American influence over the Western Hemisphere, further reinforced a sense of national pride. However, underlying tensions began to surface as sectionalism regarding slavery issues gained prominence, alongside internal divisions within the Democratic-Republican Party. The climax of these divisions culminated in the contentious presidential election of 1824, which ended in a split among party members and effectively marked the conclusion of the Era of Good Feelings. Overall, this era encapsulates a transformative moment in the formation of American identity and politics, characterized by both unity and emerging conflicts.
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Era of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a period in American history that began after the conclusion of the War of 1812 in 1815 and continued until the mid-1820s. During this time, the American political climate was marked by optimism, a desire for unity, and an increasing sense of nationalism. The Era of Good Feelings is also associated with the presidency of James Monroe, who was elected in 1816 and ultimately served two terms in office. Monroe’s election also marked the end of the Federalist Party and the beginning of a period during which American politics were dominated by the Democratic-Republican Party. After Monroe’s first term, during which the United States experienced considerable economic growth, the country was increasingly troubled by growing sectionalism, an economic downturn, and escalating tensions among Democratic-Republicans that eventually divided the party. The splintered 1824 presidential election and subsequent rise of Jacksonian democracy signaled the end of the Era of Good Feelings.
Background
The beginning of the Era of Good Feelings coincided with the collapse of the Federalist Party. Originally founded in 1789, the Federalist Party was the first organized political party in American history. Some of its most noteworthy members included Founding Fathers John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. The Federalists believed in a strong central government, supported economic policies that favored manufacturing and trade, sought to establish a warmer diplomatic relationship with England, and opposed the French Revolution. This put them at odds with their Democratic-Republican party rivals who believed in a limited federal government, supported economic policies that favored agriculture, preferred building a better diplomatic relationship with France, and supported the French Revolution.
The Federalist Party enjoyed its greatest successes in the earliest years of the American Republic. In addition to enjoying the support of George Washington during his non-partisan presidency, the Federalists scored many key legislative victories in the 1790s. The apex of the party’s success came with the election of John Adams, the lone Federalist president, in 1796. However, about the same time, the Democratic-Republican Party began to gain more widespread support. To make matters worse, Adams’ presidency saw a widening divide between different factions within the Federalist Party. This caused Adams to lose his reelection bid in 1800.
By the time of Adams’ defeat, the Federalist Party was becoming increasingly fractured thanks to infighting. Problems within its ranks only worsened with the unexpected death of party leader Alexander Hamilton in 1804, the same year that Federalist candidate Charles C. Pinckney fell, sort of ousting Jefferson from the presidency. By the time the Federalists suffered another presidential election defeat to James Madison in 1808, the party was practically in shambles. The War of 1812 would prove to be the final nail in the Federalists’ coffin. Given their favorable views toward England, most Federalists opposed the war and voiced strong opposition. With their public support waning as a result, the Federalists made a final mistake when party members in New England convened for the Hartford Convention in 1814 and some delegates proposed seceding from the United States. When news of this development broke, the Federalist Party effectively collapsed.
Overview
The end of the War of 1812, as well as the collapse of the Federalist Party and the subsequent emergence of the dominant Democratic-Republicans, marked the beginning of a new period in American history that came to be known as the Era of Good Feelings. This important shift in the state of American politics was demonstrated by Democrat-Republican James Monroe’s landslide victory over Federalist candidate Rufus King in the 1816 presidential election. After winning the presidency, Monroe went on a goodwill tour meant to help ease regional divisions that arose during the War of 1812. One of Monroe’s stops took him to Boston, where a reporter with a local newspaper called the Columbian Centinel covered his event, noting the upbeat mood of attendees from across the political spectrum and their apparent enthusiasm for unity and nationalism. The headline of the Columbian Centinel also introduced the phrase “the era of good feelings.”
The initial optimism of the Era of Good Feelings was bolstered by the nation’s increasing economic prosperity. While Monroe was serving his first term, Congress enacted several measures that helped boost the economy. This included establishing the Second National Bank, instituting protective tariffs that allowed the nation to pay off its extensive war debts, and ending property taxes and other federal taxes.
Another important factor contributing to the Era of Good Feeling was that America was actively expanding as a nation and emerging as a world power. On the global stage, the country began to take its place as a world power when Monroe delivered his Monroe Doctrine. In this breakthrough foreign policy position, Monroe claimed the Western Hemisphere as an American sphere of influence and warned European nations to stay away from the region.
By Monroe’s second term, the enthusiastic sense of unity and nationalism at the heart of the Era of Good Feelings began to wane. On one hand, this was the result of American expansion and growing sectional divides over the future of slavery in the nation. On the other hand, it was also tied to the emergence of political divisions within the Democratic-Republican Party. The latter problem was highlighted during the presidential election of 1824, when four Democratic-Republican candidates vied for office, but none managed to win an electoral majority. The US House of Representatives was forced to choose a winner between the two leading candidates: John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. In the end, the House chose Adams even though Jackson had won more popular and electoral votes. This controversial decision led to a divisive split in the Democratic-Republican Party that effectively ended the Era of Good Feelings.
Bibliography
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Trickey, Erick. “The Brief Period, 200 Years Ago, When American Politics Was Full of ‘Good Feelings.’” Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/there-was-time-briefly-and-200-years-ago-when-american-politics-was-full-good-feelings-180964074. Accessed 10 Oct. 2023.