“Era of Good Feelings”
...alists. Americans took a liking to his ideas and even a Boston newspaper was carried away to proclaim that an “Era of Good Feelings” was accepted. However, the “good feelings” were short lived due to issues of the powers of the bank, issues of slavery, powers of Congress, and expansion. John C. Calhoun of Congress, in 1817, as stated in Document B believed that rapid expansion could possibly lead to disunion, which he obviously feared. Yet, somehow he believed that expansion brought along its advantages. He feared sectionalism and found it necessary to protect the unity of republic. John Krimmel’s painting of a 4th of July Celebration of 1819 promotes nationalism and patriotism. The painting shows a portrait of Washington, the first president and also depicts an American flag. Furthermore, in the forefront of the picture, there are two soldiers promoting a feeling of pride. Soon after the painting portraying such festivities taking place in Centre Square, Philadelphia, feelings of such strong pride and unity began to diminish. In 1820, Thomas Jefferson wrote to John Randolph expressing his fear for “the [death] knell of the union”. Also, he made references to the Missouri Compromise line, “A geographical line…will never be obliterated”. Jefferson expressed his fear of the growing differences between northern and southe...