Era Of Good Feelings Dbq Analysis

The period after the War of 1812 has been deemed the “Era of Good Feelings.” Typically this is seen in this light because a war had just ended; leading to a time of peace and there was a nationalistic feeling emerging among the United States citizens. However, this nationalistic feeling was only perceived, in reality sectionalism was rising amongst the people. This increase in sectionalism is evident through social, political, and economic factors. There were some perceived nationalistic feelings, as seen in document C. This is a picture depicting a celebration of the fourth of July. People are celebrating, soldiers are hugging and cheering, and a portrait of George Washington and an American flag visible in the background. However, it is

This can be seen in the election of 1824 (Doc I). Before this time there had been two political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic - Republicans. However, during the time after the War of 1812, the Federalist Party disbanded, leaving only one party, the Democratic - Republicans. The election of 1820 saw little splintering through the party, with the majority of the states voting for James Monroe. However, in the election of 1824, electoral votes are dispersed in a much different manner. There are four candidates from the Democratic - Republican Party and votes are unequally sorted between them, and no candidate has a majority, which is needed to win the presidency. This shows the sectionalism beginning throughout the country, and throughout the political party, eventually causing it to splinter into the Democratic Party and the Republican

This meant that the north had higher representation in congress. The 3/5 compromise, where 3/5 of African slaves counted as citizens, no longer applied. In return, some compromises were made. One compromise was the Missouri Compromise. This made the new state Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state, making an even number of states free and slave. They also erected the 36°30° line. All states above this line made thereafter would be free while all states below would be slave states. However, this line creates an even further divide within the country, creating a line which splits the country based off beliefs. This can be observed in a quote from Thomas Jefferson, who stated “A geographical line, coinciding with a marked principle, moral and political, once conceived and held up to the angry passions men, will never be obliterated,” (Doc F). He is saying this line that they have created will never be destroyed; it will forever split the