Era of Good Feelings: 1815-1829After the War of 1812, the “Era of Good Feelings” followed. During the time period, the United States continued to grow and develop and experienced a strong sense of nationalism. However, as the nation grew and became more unified in some respects, it also became more divided. Sectionalism began to emerge. “Era of Good Feelings” = misleadingSectionalism is a strong sense of loyalty to a state or region instead of the whole country.

Era of Good Feelings: 1815-1829Three factors that helped unify the nation:1) The two-party system: Federalist party fades, Democratic-Republicans dominate politics in every section. It is several years before a new political party, the Whigs, would come into play. The Whigs were a political party formed to oppose the ideas of President Andrew Jackson. Both parties ran campaigns that attracted interest and increased the numbers of those voting and involved in national issues.2) The market economy and interstate commerce: helped stimulate economic growth nationwide. Revolutions in transportation and technology led to industrialization and urbanization. Southern and western crops were exchanged for northern manufactured goods.

Era of Good Feelings: 1815-1829Senator Henry Clay, supported by John Quincy Adams, designed a legislative program called the “American System”. The program benefited all regions of the country and unified the nation by:Establishing a better national transportation system to aid trade and national defenseSetting the first protective tariff (Tariff of 1816) to encourage American manufacturing and provide funds for improved national transportation networks Created a (second) national bank to promote the necessary financial support.3) Decisions of Marshall Court: encouraged national economy by expanding interstate commerce and protecting validity of contracts (Gibbons v. Ogden)

The Monroe Doctrine

December 2, 1823, as a result of anti-republic and democratic movements in Europe, Pres. Monroe issued a statement warning against European involvement in the Western Hemisphere

“the American continents…are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers”.

Monroe Doctrine would eventually become the cornerstone of US foreign policy toward Latin America

Growth of Western

Settlement By 1822, population west of the Appalachians had doubled …growth was caused by several factors:

Acquisition of Native American lands due to victories during the war of 1812

Economic pressures due to economic difficulties in the North and the need for fertile planting ground in the South

Improved transportation

Immigrants were attracted to the US by cheap land in the Great Lakes and the Ohio, Cumberland, and Mississippi River valleys

New Land= New Issues

Westerners could not agree whether or not to permit slavery in the new territories

In 1819, Missouri applied for statehood, slavery issue became an angry debate

Allowing another slave or free state into the Union would upset the balance of power in the Senate

11 Slave States, 11 Free States (Senate)

108 Northern Representatives vs. 81 Southern Representatives (House)

The Missouri Compromise (1820)

Henry Clay proposed 3 bills that together were the Missouri Compromise:

Missouri admitted as a slave state

Maine admitted as a free state

Slavery was not allowed in the rest of the Louisiana Territory north of latitude 36˚ 30’

Missouri Compromise delayed the issue of slavery for several years, but highlighted how Americans were torn between nationalism and sectionalism

The North: Urbanization and Industrialization

Steam Power RoadsIn 1807, Robert Fulton’s Clermont steamed up the Hudson River.

Steamships helped farmers ship their goods to markets around the world.

By 1833, the Cumberland Road ran from Maryland to Ohio.

New roads of stone and gravel helped Americans move west.

The North: Urbanization & Industrialization

Canals RailroadsErie Canal connected Lake Erie to New York City in 1825.

By 1840, 3,000 miles of canals are in use.

In 1828, The Baltimore and Ohio railroad line became the nation’s first railroad.

By 1840, United States had more miles of railroad track than any other country in the world.

The North: Urbanization & Industrialization

Industrialization

Immigration Urbanization

Growth of FactoriesIndustrialization in the North lead to increases in manufacturing; first mills were established in New England

Industrialization led to increased immigration from Irish (potato famine) and German catholic immigrants . Immigrants faced hostility and nativist attitudes. Nativism is anti-immigrant feelings.A political party, the Know-Nothings, was formed based on nativist ideas.

Growth of CitiesPeople looking for work and immigrants moved to the cities to find jobs.

The gap between the rich and the poor widened. Cities were also unsafe. Police forces did not appear until the mid-1830s.

The South: The Cotton Economy & Slavery1) South has good conditions for farming.2) The South develops an economy based on farming and slavery3) Invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney makes cotton manufacturing more profitable.4) Industrial Revolution leads to growing textile industry which needs cotton to make cloth5) Cotton becomes the most valuable product in the south.6) Rich landowners create huge plantations, relying on slave labor to grow cotton.

The South: The Cotton Economy & SlaveryWhat was life like under slavery?Slaves regarded as property, not peopleSlaves had no control over their own livesSlaves were at the mercy of slaveholdersSlaves worked from sunrise to sunsetSlaves could not legally marrySlave families were sold and frequently broken upReligion was important to slaves and their cultureRebellions:escape, self-mutilation, sabotage, work slowdowns, open rebellions were rare