Accuracy of the Label "of Good Feelings" in Aspects of Emergence of Nationalism and Sectionalism

The War of 1812 opens a new chapter in American history in a variety of aspects. After its victory over Great Britain, America gains true sovereignty and regard as an independent nation, soon leading to proliferation of nationalist sentiment. But the most important change that's brought about in America is the abolition of the two party system, as the Federalist Party marks its end in the Hartford convention, leading to an era with no political opposition. This shift in the political landscape, along with the emergence of nationalist sentiment, resulted in the "Era of Good Feelings" from (1815-1825), though traces of sectionalism hints its seemingly unnoticeable limits.

The Era of Good Feelings was mostly shown in political matters; it by definition is an Era without any political opposition. As mentioned in the introduction, this serenity in politics started off with the Hartford Convention of the Federalist Party in 1814, in which they threatened to secede from the Union if their demands were not met. However, at the end of the War of 1812, people of the United States were overwhelmed with nationalism and were weaved together in unity, as seen in the festive and merry atmosphere in Document C. The Hartford Convention was perceived as a threatening action to their unity, thus leaving the Federalists harshly upbraided- to the extent the party died away. This sentiment extensively ramified into the next presidential election. In 1820, President James Monroe was elected with a landslide in every single state (Doc. I). At this time, people were so determined to keep their country together and feared the start of a political division, that even formal Federalist States voted for the Democrat-Republican candidate, leading to a chauvinistic vote to a single candidate. Despite this nationalist phenomenon, sectional conflict inevitably occurred, mainly caused by the issue of slavery. In the year 1819, Missouri applied for statehood, as a slave state. This caused much panic in Congress since an addition of a slave state meant break in the balance of powers between the slave states and the free states. However, still under the effects in nationalism, a compromise was sought out, which resulted in Maine entering as a free state, restoring peace back into Congress. This event, called the Missouri Compromise (1820), signifies two things: at the Era of Good Feelings, in the peril of division, everyone cooperated to circumvent from the trouble. At the same time, the issue of balance of power between the free state and the slave state will be a question that America will inevitably have to face and solve eventually, as long as it expands westward, and new states keep on appearing. In political terms, The Era of Good