Era of Good Feelings

Quick Facts: Who was Era of Good Feelings?

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Era of Good Feelings

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A period (c. 1815–1825) marked by apparent national unity following the War of 1812.

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Origins & Early Life

The Era of Good Feelings marked a period in the political history of the United States that reflected a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans in the aftermath of the War of 1812. The era saw the collapse of the Federalist Party and an end to the bitter partisan disputes between it and the dominant Democratic-Republican Party during the First Party System. President James Monroe strove to downplay partisan affiliation in making his nominations, with the ultimate goal of national unity and eliminating political parties altogether from national politics. The period is so closely associated with Monroe's presidency (1817–1825) and his administrative goals that his name and the era are virtually synonymous. During and after the 1824 presidential election, the Democratic-Republican Party split between supporters and opponents of Jacksonian Democracy, leading to the Second Party System.

Career & Major Achievements

Historians often designate the era as one of good feelings with irony or skepticism, as the political atmosphere was strained and divisive, especially among factions within the Monroe administration and the Democratic-Republican Party. The phrase Era of Good Feelings was coined by Benjamin Russell in the Boston Federalist newspaper Columbian Centinel on July 12, 1817, following Monroe's visit to Boston, Massachusetts, as part of his good-will tour of the United States. The Era of Good Feelings started in 1815 at the end of the War of 1812. Exultation replaced the bitter political divisions between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, the North and South, and the East Coast cities and settlers on the American frontier. The political hostilities declined because the Federalist Party had largely dissolved after the fiasco of the Hartford Convention in 1814–15.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As a party, Federalists "had collapsed as a national political force". The Democratic-Republican Party was nominally dominant, but in practice it was inactive at the national level and in most states. The era saw a trend toward national institutions that envisioned "a permanent federal role in the crucial arena of national development and national prosperity". President James Monroe's predecessor James Madison and the Democratic-Republican Party had come to appreciate – through the crucible of war – the expediency of Federalist institutions and projects, and prepared to legislate them under the auspices of John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay's American System. Madison announced this shift in policy with his State of the Union Address in December 1815, subsequently authorizing measures for a national bank and a protective tariff on manufactures.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1812: 1812 Milestone — The Era of Good Feelings marked a period in the political history of the United States that reflected a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans in the aftermath of the War of 1812.
2. 1814: 1814 Milestone — The political hostilities declined because the Federalist Party had largely dissolved after the fiasco of the Hartford Convention in 1814–15.
3. 1815: 1815 Milestone — The Era of Good Feelings started in 1815 at the end of the War of 1812.
4. 1817: 1817 Milestone — The period is so closely associated with Monroe's presidency (1817–1825) and his administrative goals that his name and the era are virtually synonymous.
5. 1824: 1824 Milestone — During and after the 1824 presidential election, the Democratic-Republican Party split between supporters and opponents of Jacksonian Democracy, leading to the Second Party System.

Notable Quotes by Era of Good Feelings

“The phrase "Era of Good Feelings" was coined by Benjamin Russell in the Boston Federalist newspaper Columbian Centinel on July 12, 1817.” (1817)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Era of Good Feelings

True or False: “The Era of Good Feelings represented a period where partisan politics were entirely absent from national discourse.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While there was a desire for unity, the era saw underlying strains and eventual splits, such as the Democratic-Republican Party's division after the 1824 election.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Era of Good Feelings