Historians label the period after 1812 as the era of good feelings in the US. In their argument, this is a period during which the country enjoyed peace and tranquility. There were no much quarrels or disagreements between the people of America. To some extent, this can be taken to be true but if the overall picture is highlighted, then it occurs that the era of good feelings was actually a creation of the historians and something that never actually existed in America. Below is a deeper analysis and discussion of this era.
After the war of 1812, many people had the feelings that America should not have gone into war because it did little to change the face of America, though it helped retain the status quo. However, it is worth remembering that it is at this time that the Republicans were controlling the presidency and the congress. Through their own political program and the assistance of Henry Clay, they passed what was known as the American System. The description of this tariff included federal support for internal improvements, and protection of new industries. It also involved renewal of the national bank and the building of roads and bridges. These ideas were not so far from what the Federalists advocated for.
The president was also committed to the same course of bringing unity or nationalism in the US. President Monroe’s sought to reconcile the political parties, which made the term ‘era of good feelings’ also apply to his term in office. The leaders and many other people were talking of nationalism. The identity of America was being redefined anew. It looked as if the country was set for a period of total peace.
However, things did not turn out as expected and the period of good feelings soon came to an end. It so happens that in 1819, the Marshall’s Court passed rules which gave strong powers to the government. This did not sit well with many people, especially the Federalist Party which was a defunct. On another front, new states were becoming part of the US. These included Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri. However, this brought about a new challenge. Some of the states wanted to go on with slave trade while others did not. This condition made it quite hard for the nationalist movement to go on. It was so bad that the state of Missouri had to compromise through the Missouri Compromise. At the end, the states were divided where there were 11 slave states and 11 non-slave states. This was already a sign that there was a kind of division. At the same time, there were wars in Europe. However, through the Monroe Doctrine, the US vowed not to get involved in their affairs. This is because the US did not want to get into problems. However, it was eventually pulled into it since there war some states which wanted to be involved.
