1. The Era of Good Feelings or Was It?
APUSH - Spiconardi

2. Nationalism
After the War of 1812, America emerged with a heightened sense of nationalism
“Victory” over Britain
Westward expansion brought optimism
Reduced sectionalism
Citizens began to see themselves as Americans as opposed to state citizens first
Cultural nationalism
End of Federalist led to a one party system
“Everyone” was a Republican

3. The American System
The War of 1812 demonstrated that the United States lacked infrastructure and funds
Military was not properly equipped
Transportation of supplies was difficult
Funds were limited
Fortifications needed strengthening
In his annual address to Congress in 1815, Madison put forth a plan to strengthen the national economy

4. The American System NATIONAL REPUBLICANS Henry Clay John C. Calhoun
Congressional Representative from Kentucky (Speaker of the House)
Originally against a national bank, Clay believed circumstances had made on necessary
Despite retaining his belief in an agrarian republic, Clay believed agriculture must be complimented by manufacturing.
Representative from South Carolina
Proposed bill for a second Bank of the United States (BUS)
Supported federal funds for infrastructure
NATIONAL REPUBLICANS
Let us bind the nation together, with a perfect system of roads and canals. Let us conquer space

5. The American System Provide Economic Growth Road Building Canals
Northern factory workers would form a market for agricultural products from the South and West
Southern and western farmers would buy manufactured products from the North
Road Building
National Road from Cumberland, MD to Ohio River Valley
Canals
Connect the Great Lakes and Mississippi River to the Atlantic seaboard
Tariffs
Protect goods produced in America

6. *Madison vetoes the bill on the eve of leaving the presidency
The American System
Opposition
Many Jeffersonian Republicans argued against the use of federal money for infrastructure
The Vote (1817)
Congress passed legislation which enacted an internal-improvements plan
Surprisingly, Madison* vetoes it
Madison believed allowing the federal government to exercise powers not appropriated in the Constitution would be dangerous to individual liberty and southern interests
If we restricted the use of money to the enumerated powers , on what principle can the purchase of Louisiana be justified?
*Madison vetoes the bill on the eve of leaving the presidency

7. The Tariff of 1816
Passed with the purpose of protecting American industry against foreign competition
Tariff was the first “protective tariff” in history at 20%
South opposed the tariff
Calhoun one of the few Southerners who voted in favor of the tariff
He believed the tariff would enable the south to develop a manufacturing center to rival New England’s.
And tariff would be reduced after 3 years

8. The Second Bank of the United States
A second national bank was chartered in 1816
Powers
Issued paper money
Paid government’s debt
Open branches
Grant government loans
Old Republicans and western settlers opposed the bank

9. Elections of 1816 & 1820
James Monroe is elected president in 1816 and re-elected in 1820
In 1820 Monroe essentially ran unopposed
Fun Facts
James is the most popular presidential first name
Monroe is the last president elected who had attended Constitutional Convention
Monroe last president elected from Virginia dynasty
Monroe is last president to dress in the “old style”

10. James Monroe Era of Good Feelings
“Never before, perhaps, since the institution of civil government, did the same harmony, the same absence of party spirit, the same national feeling, pervade a community.” ~ Washington’s National Intelligencer, July 1817
Era of Good Feelings
Monroe undertook a goodwill tour in 1817 to inspect military defenses
Monroe visited every state in the nation
Personable demeanor made him extremely popular
Monroe hoped to preside over the decline of political parties

11. James Monroe Cabinet Surrounds himself with national Republicans
John Quincy Adams (Sec. of State)
John C. Calhoun (Sec. of War)
Despite his cabinet, he often vetoed legislation that extended economic nationalism and the American System
Believed amendments had to be passed to eliminate all doubt about federal authority pertaining to infrastructural improvements

12. Panic of 1819 BUS did not regulate the issuance of paper money
Value of paper currency fluctuated
Land speculation
Price of land plummeted
All those who invested in western real estate lost millions
Demand for American goods dropped off
Europeans did not buy as much
Repayment of loans
Banks start asking for loan repayment
Farmers and businessmen could not payback the loans
Many filed for bankruptcy

14. Panic of 1819 Impact Distrust of BUS
Several southern states levy taxes against the local branches of BUS
Debt relief
Western states suspend collection of debts
Kentucky establishes a state bank
Prints money and requires creditors to accept it for payments of loans
Division within Republican Party
Growing sectionalism
North demands higher tariffs
South withdraws the limited support it had from economic nationalism
There has been within these two years an immense revolution of fortunes in every part of the Union; enormous numbers of persons utterly ruined; multitudes in deep distress

16. Era of Good Feelings or Was It?