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Era of Good Feelings Timeline

(1817–1825)

The Era of Good Feelings was a period of heightened national unity and political calm in the United States, associated with President James Monroe's administration. Despite growing sectional tensions over slavery, tariffs, and states' rights, the era encouraged nationalism, economic development, and westward expansion. Less

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Origins and national unity

Era of Good Feelings begins

Dec 1815

The Era of Good Feelings began at the end of the War of 1812, reflecting a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans.

Image source: Era of Good Feelings

Era of Good Feelings begins

Madison announces a policy shift

Dec 1815

James Madison announced a shift in policy in his State of the Union Address, helping define the national program associated with the early Era of Good Feelings.

Image source: James Madison

Madison announces a policy shift

Madison supports a national bank

Dec 1815

In the policy shift announced in December 1815, Madison authorized measures for a national bank.

Image source: Second Bank of the United States

Madison supports a national bank

Madison supports a protective tariff

Dec 1815

Madison's December 1815 policy program also authorized a protective tariff on manufactures.

Federalist decline accelerates

1816

Political hostilities declined as the Federalist Party largely dissolved after the fiasco of the Hartford Convention in 1814–15.

Image source: Federalist Party

Federalist decline accelerates

Madison writes to Monroe

1817

Writing to Monroe in 1817, Madison declared that there had never been a moment when such a proposition to the states was so likely to be approved.

The Era of Good Feelings is named

Jul 12, 1817

Benjamin Russell coined the phrase Era of Good Feelings in the Boston Federalist newspaper Columbian Centinel on July 12, 1817, after Monroe's visit to Boston during his goodwill tour.

Monroe administration

Monroe wins the 1816 election

Nov 1816

James Monroe defeated Federalist Rufus King in the 1816 presidential election. The result was so widely predicted that voter turnout was low.

Image source: 1816 United States presidential election

Monroe wins the 1816 election

The era becomes associated with Monroe

1817 - 1825

The period became closely associated with Monroe's presidency and administrative goals, making his name and the era virtually synonymous.

Monroe begins his goodwill tour

1817

Monroe undertook a country-wide goodwill tour in 1817, one of the clearest illustrations of the Era of Good Feelings.

Image source: James Monroe

Monroe begins his goodwill tour

Adams serves in Monroe's cabinet

1817 - 1825

John Quincy Adams served in Monroe's cabinet during the presidency that became most closely associated with the Era of Good Feelings.

Image source: John Quincy Adams

Adams serves in Monroe's cabinet

Monroe adopts Revolutionary-era style

1817

As the last U.S. president who was a Revolutionary War veteran, Monroe wore a Revolutionary War officer's uniform and tied his long, powdered hair in an eighteenth-century queue during his public appearances.

Crawford serves in Monroe's cabinet

1817 - 1825

William H. Crawford served in Monroe's cabinet and was another rival who would seek the presidency in 1824.

Calhoun serves in Monroe's cabinet

1817 - 1825

John C. Calhoun served in Monroe's cabinet and later became one of the political rivals competing for the presidency in 1824.

Image source: John C. Calhoun

Calhoun serves in Monroe's cabinet

Monroe assumes the presidency

Mar 4, 1817

When Monroe assumed office in March 1817, a spirit of reconciliation between Democratic-Republicans and Federalists was already well underway.

Monroe visits Boston

Jul 1817

Monroe's visit to Boston, Massachusetts, as part of his goodwill tour provided the occasion for Benjamin Russell's phrase describing the national mood.

Monroe's goodwill tour continues

1819

Monroe made another country-wide goodwill tour in 1819, reinforcing the image of national reconciliation associated with his presidency.

Monroe wins reelection

Nov 1820

Monroe's nearly unanimous electoral victory for reelection in 1820 appeared to confirm the political harmony associated with the Era of Good Feelings.

Image source: 1820 United States presidential election

Monroe wins reelection

Sectional conflict

Missouri Crisis erupts

1819 - 1820

The Missouri Crisis made explosive political conflict between slave and free soil open and explicit.

Missouri debate exposes sectional conflict

1820

In 1820, the Missouri Crisis demonstrated that sectional divisions could break through the era's broader rhetoric of national unity.

Image source: Missouri Compromise

Missouri debate exposes sectional conflict

Political realignment

McCulloch v. Maryland shapes the era

1819

The Supreme Court's McCulloch v. Maryland was among the developments that complicated the political consensus of the period.

Image source: McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch v. Maryland shapes the era

Panic of 1819 begins

1819

The disastrous Panic of 1819 challenged the apparent political harmony of the Era of Good Feelings.

Image source: Panic of 1819

Panic of 1819 begins

Monroe confronts anti-Federalist opposition

1819

Much anti-Federalist sentiment was viewed as political posturing, but Monroe remained uncertain of support for his domestic and foreign programs.

Federalist appointments become acceptable

1819

With de-Federalization virtually complete by 1820, appointing former Federalist Party members seemed appropriate, although Monroe feared a political backlash.

Monroe runs unopposed

1820

Some historians interpret Monroe's unopposed run in the 1820 presidential election as evidence that he had reduced party politics.

De-Federalization is virtually complete

1820

By 1820, de-Federalization was virtually complete, marking the near disappearance of the Federalist Party from national political life.

Monroe worries about the 1824 contest

1821

Monroe was concerned about mounting hostilities over the upcoming presidential contest in 1824, which was expected to be a purely intraparty affair.

Image source: 1824 United States presidential election

Monroe worries about the 1824 contest

The cabinet's presidential rivals emerge

1821

Monroe's cabinet included three political rivals who would vie for the presidency in 1824: John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun, and William H. Crawford.

The Democratic-Republican Party divides

1824

During and after the 1824 presidential election, the Democratic-Republican Party split between supporters and opponents of Jacksonian Democracy.

Image source: Democratic-Republican Party

The Democratic-Republican Party divides

The Second Party System emerges

1824

The Democratic-Republican split surrounding the 1824 election led to the development of the Second Party System.

Image source: Second Party System

The Second Party System emerges

Key Facts

  1. The Era of Good Feelings occurred primarily during James Monroe's presidency from 1817 to 1825.
  2. The collapse of the Federalist Party created a period of one-party rule dominated by the Democratic-Republicans.
  3. Nationalism grew after the War of 1812, leading to support for a stronger federal government and national institutions.
  4. Major developments included the Second Bank of the United States, protective tariffs, improved transportation, and the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
  5. Political unity was limited because debates over slavery, sectional interests, and economic policy continued to divide the nation.

Source

This Era of Good Feelings timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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