What role did sectionalism play in the nation during the Era of Good Feeling?

Answer 1

The Era of Good Feelings, Monroe's early presidency, witnessed an era of intense nationalism which almost wholly masked the sectional conflicts underneath. Although the overall sentiments were based on principle and patriotism, sectionalism did induce major events, and played an ominously momentous role: 1. In McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819), the ever omnipresent issue of states rights surfaced. Maryland wanted to defend its right to regulate the Bank of U.S. while the rich elite strove to defend their interests in the bank. In this judicial ruling, John Marshall the chief justice championed the rich and wealthy, along with Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, and other remnants of the obsolete Federalist Party. Meanwhile, the westerners and states' rights supporters championed Maryland, and began to oppose the Bank, thus giving rise to Andrew Jackson. 2. In Gibbons vs. Ogden, Marshall again ruled in favor of the commercial interests and rich classes. He directly gave Congress the power of interstate commerce and regulation rather than giving New York and states such broad powers. Again, Marshall ruled in line with former Federalists and commercial classes of the Northeast. The westerners and rural southerners, however, were angered at the decision and hence strongly supported Andrew Jackson or Henry Clay to curb Marshall.

The sectionalism in that time period was the argument of a States right to endorse slavery - or really the balance of power in congress between southern states and northern states. But the underlying issue was the souths fear of the rapid population grown in the north. The major sectionalism event during the era of good feelings was the Missouri crisis that led to the Missouri compromise - crafted by Henry Clay in 1820. The nationalism of that time period was the after effect of the war of 1812. It provided the USA with absolute independence. No other world power had influence over America. Also America became resource independent around that time period. Cities were growing and people all around America were becoming Americans.