The period after the War of 1812, was labeled "The Era of Good Feeling"" by historians. Some people believe that this is an accurate label of this time period, but others disagree. Due to the emergence of sectionalism - concern with local interests, and nationalism- patriotic feelings and self pride, people had mixed feelings about this time period. Many people felt that times were high, and that nationalism and sectionalism could only bolster the union, while others thought that it was sectionalism and nationalism that caused disunion. Some of the documents used in this essay support the claim that the period after 1812 was an era of good feelings. Other documents will oppose this claim with proof from their own perspectives.
Document B discusses the wonders that the growth of nationalism has done for the Union. John Calhoun writes that before the war, the Republic was in a state of disunion. He then goes on to say that the republic should bind together to conquer space. (Doc B). The celebration of July 4th 1819 after the Republicans had won the Battle of New Orleans (Doc C) shows a great deal of nationalism and self pride. Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to John Randolph that he once considered sectionalism to be the death of the union, but it was a reprieve, not a final sentence. He says that a geographical line will never be obliterated, and that every new irritation will mark it deeper and deeper. (Doc F). These documents show how some people felt that this time period was accurately labeled as "The Era of Good Feeling." ".
Alternatively, many people also felt that the period of time after The War of 1812 was not an era of prosperity, but rather just the opposite. John Randolph expresses his feelings in Document A by saying that "the agriculturists bear the whole brunt of the war and taxation, and remain poor, while the others run in the ring of pleasure, and fatten upon them. "(Doc.