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Start of the American System (1816) -- Economic

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Start of the American System (1816) -- Economic

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The American System was a system proposed by Henry Clay to advance America's economic growth. The plan included initiating protective tariffs, having a national bank, and having internal improvements. The system started being put into place in 1816 with the chartering of the Second National Bank and the protective Tariff of 1816. The start of the American System was the start of the efforts towards economic growth and industry development in America during this time, and helped the country become less dependent on foreign trade.

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Death of the Federalist Party (1816) -- Political

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Death of the Federalist Party (1816) -- Political

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Because they opposed the war of 1812 and discussed secession at the Hartford Convention, the Federalist party was seen as not being in line with the nationalistic sentiment at the time, and they faced a lot of criticism. The death of the party was solidified after its defeat in the party's last presidential election in 1816. After that, it stopped being a national party and didn't nominate a presidential candidate in 1820. This meant that the Democratic-Republicans had no real competition and America was dominated by only one party.

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Split of Republican Party (1824)--Political

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Split of Republican Party (1824)--Political

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Although they were the dominant party at the time, members of the Democratic-Republican party had differing opinions. Some members still held old ideas of limited government and strict interpretation of the Constitution, while others adopted ideas such as maintaining a large army and navy and having a national bank. During the election of 1824, four Republicans ran for president, and the party was split on who to vote for. Some of them supported John Quincy Adams, while others supported Andrew Jackson. This division created two new political parties, but also decreased the amount of unity among Americans.

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Jackson in FL/ Adam Onis Treaty (1818 & 1819)--Political

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Jackson in FL/ Adam Onis Treaty (1818 & 1819)--Political

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President Monroe ordered Andrew Jackson to stop Seminole raiders and push them into west Florida if necessary. In 1818, Jackson led militia into Florida and destroyed Seminole villages, hung 2 chiefs and 2 British traders, captured Pensacola, and drove out the Spanish governor.

Spain was worried that the U.S. would seize Florida, so in 1819 they created the Adams-Onis Treaty. In the treaty, Spain gave all their possessions in Florida and claims in the Oregon Territory to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. forgiving Spain's $5 million debt and giving up their land claims to Texas. The treaty resolved border disputes and also allowed the U.S. to gain Florida.

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Expansion of Voting Rights (1810-1821) -- Political

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Expansion of Voting Rights (1810-1821) -- Political

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Between 1810 and 1821, ten states removed land requirements or reduced requirements for voting. This meant all white men earned the right to vote, instead of all white male landowners. This change in voting rights meant that America was becoming more involved in voting and politics because more people were able to vote.

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After Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from the French in 1803, America doubled in size. From 1803-1819, America gained 5 new states-- Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, and Alabama. The addition of new states and the expansion of the country meant more economic opportunities. However, it also meant more debate over slavery and which states were to be free states and which would be slave states.

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Missouri bid for statehood, but the North feared that if it became a state, the political scale in Congress would be tipped in favor of the South. After months of debate about Missouri and slavery, Henry Clay developed a compromise composed of 3 bills in 1820. The Missouri compromise stated that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, Maine would be admitted as a free state, and slavery was prohibited in the rest of the Louisiana territory north of the the 36°30′ parallel. The long debates over slavery surrounding the compromise added to the growing sectionalism sentiment between the North and the South.

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On December 2, 1823, President Monroe made a declaration of U.S. policy towards Europe and Latin America instead of making a joint statement with Britain. The declaration/doctrine said in order to protect the rights and interests of the free and independent U.S., America is not to be considered a subject for future colonization by any European power. He also said that the U.S. opposed any attempts by a European power to interfere in affairs of republics in the West hemisphere. The doctrine was applauded by the American public because Monroe defending the U.S. showed nationalism, but it became more significant in foreign policy in later years.

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Completion of the Erie Canal (1825)--Economic

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Completion of the Erie Canal (1825)--Economic

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The completion of the Erie Canal in New York in 1825 linked the economies of western farms and eastern cities. The canal stimulated economic growth that sparked the building of canals in other states. The Erie Canal and other canals improved transportation which lowered food prices in the East, allowed more immigrants to settle in the West, and strengthened economic ties.

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Recharter of Bank of US (1816)--Economic

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Recharter of Bank of US (1816)--Economic

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The charter of the First National Bank was left to expire in 1811, so a Second National Bank was chartered in 1816. The bank's purpose was to stabilize the country's economy after the debt from the War of 1812 and to provide a national currency. The bank was significant because it helped manage the flow of funds and regulate public credit up until the Panic of 1819.

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The Panic of 1819 was an economic disaster that was largely caused by the Second Bank of the United States tightening credit in a bad attempt to control inflation. State banks closed, and unemployment, bankruptcy, and imprisonment for debt rose. The national bank also foreclosed a lot of western farmland. The panic caused nationalistic beliefs to be shaken and Westerners started opposing the Bank of the U.S. and wanting land reform. It also stopped economic growth and was the first major financial panic since the Constitution was ratified.

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After examining key events and key concepts from this period, it can be determined that it was not actually an era of good feeling. Throughout the period, there were many long debates and arguments among American citizens, and there were issues with maintaining a stable economy. For example, the Panic of 1819 was caused by the Second National Bank tightening credit in order to try to control inflation. As a result, banks closed, unemployment rates and bankruptcy rose, and western farmers were getting their farmland foreclosed. The panic also caused a decrease in nationalistic beliefs and opposition of the National Bank from the West. This economic disaster and the negative effects it had on the economy and Americans' jobs and livelihood suggests that good feelings were not actually surrounding the country during this time period. Political debates also played a part in the lack of good feelings during this time period. By 1824, the Republican Party was the dominant political group, however the party had some internal conflicts with each other. Some of the party members still valued limited government and strict interpretation of the Constitution, while other members supported the idea of a large army and navy and having a national bank. In addition, during the election of 1824, four Republicans ran for president, and a lot of the party was split on whether to support John Quincy Adams or Andrew Jackson. This difference in values and division on which candidate to vote for led to political debates and rivalry within the party, which shows how the time period was not an era of good feeling and unity. Another political debate that supports this idea is the debate surrounding the Missouri Compromise. In 1820, Missouri bid for statehood, but the North feared that if it became a slave state then the South would have an advantage in Congress. This sparked months of debate regarding Missouri and slavery, until Henry Clay came up with the Missouri Compromise in 1820. The arguments about Missouri and the issue of slavery added to the growing sectionalist sentiment between the North and the South, which does not demonstrate good feeling, and shows the issue of American Citizens leaning away from nationalism and more towards sectionalism. The combination of a struggling economy, prolonged debates, and rising sectionalism illustrate how this period was not actually an era of good feeling.