The “Era of Good Feelings”
A time of growth and prosperity
Essential Question: What were the major
characteristics of the “Era of Good-Feelings?”
Handle Domestic Affairs
Post War of
1812
• Nationalism
– Confident Americans look at
domestic issues
• Financial issues con’t
• Sectionalism
– Southerners, Westerners &
Northerners have different goals
• Foreign Relations
– Establish control of W.
hemisphere
End of the Federalists
Political
Unity
• 1816 Presidential election
– James Monroe wins!
• 5th president
– Federalist party died off
The Election of 1820
New Era of Politicians
Creator of American
System & growth in the
west
Wanted to protect
industries
Aimed to protect the
people and southern
interests
Young
Politicians
(War Hawks)
• Henry Clay, Daniel Webster &
John C. Calhoun
– Fix the economic problems &
promote national unity
Promote American Growth
American
System
• Henry Clay’s plan to
stimulate American growth
– Second National Bank
– Pass tariffs
– Build infrastructure
• Transportation routes
American
System
• Second National Bank
– Chartered for 20yrs
– Goals:
• Stimulate economy
• Control money supply
American
System
• Tariff of 1816
– Goals:
• Keep out foreign goods
– i.e. Cheap British goods
• Promote American industries
American
System
• Build infrastructure
– National (Cumberland) Road
– Erie Canal
• Goals:
– Connect the East to the West and South
– Promote trade in America
– Promote expansion
American
System
Effects
• West (Clay)  got roads,
canals
• North/East (Webster)  got
growth of industry from
tariffs
• South (Calhoun)  got ???