OPPapers.com

Jackson

• 1817 - 1823 known as the Era of Good Feelings
o Federalists wee gone from the political scene and the Democratic Republicans were the ONLY major political party.
• Monroe Doctrine
• Peace and happiness, that is, until the election of 1824
Election of 1824
• Begins the ‘Era of Hard Feelings'
o Presidential election of 1824
o Votes along Sectional Lines
o The Deal
Revival of the two party system
• Jackson forms the: DEMOCRATS
o Led by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
o Consisted of small farmers, newly emerging businessmen, and city workers (proletariat).
o Opposed an all-powerful federal government, urged greater democracy, and conformed to Jeffersonian ideals.
• Opposition formed the: NATIONAL REPUBLICANS
o Later called the ‘Whigs,' led by Clay, Adams, and later by Daniel Webster.
o Played to the masses, but derived their strength chiefly from well established classes - bankers, merchants, manufacturers, and large landowners.
o Stood for a strong federal government, a national bank, protective tariffs, and favored the interests of business - resembled Hamilton's Federalist Party.

Growth of the Nation 1800-1840 Lecture Notes by Dan Rankin
The Formation of a National Government - Notes from an online history text
• Jefferson's Presidency represented a fundamental shift in direction of the federal government
o wanted a nation of independent farmers not an industrial society --> need to have virtuous, enlightened citizens (education is the key) favored nationwide system of public schools
o limited federal power and granted more authority to states... unimportance of the federal government symbolized by the character of Wash D.C.
o appointed people who would be loyal to his ideas and his presidency
• US began to free itself culturally from Europe religion, art, and literature --> dreamed of huge cultural accomplishments
• Washington Irving (Ichabod Crane, Rip Van Winkle) was the leader of US literary life in the early...