Shortly after the War of 1812 had ended under Madison’s reign, America had come to a period popularly known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The Americans had just come out of a great battle, emerging victorious, thus proving themselves to be a competent world power. However, although the time period after the War of 1812 was dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings,” growing tension due to a sudden rise of southern nationalism under John C. Calhoun, too much involvement from the government, and disagreements over slavery created such disunion that the nation descended into utter chaos. The so-called “Era of Good Feelings” was, in fact, a misnomer – not only was it not a time of good feelings, but it was actually a period of great disunion.…
Throughout the course of history many campaigns and elections have changed and been influenced by the time period surrounding them. The participation in political campaigns and elections in the United States between 1815-1840 greatly changed due to the significant effects of the War of 1812. As a new era formed as a result of the war, change in our nations politics did too. This new era known as “the era of good feelings” paved the way for change within our nations elections and campaigns. Just as it had united the voters of America in the beginning, its decline resulted in a growing show of sectionalism in the voters throughout the country.…
As the years progressed from 1815-1840 the voter participation was increasing drastically. As seen in document A, in 1824 there was a 26.9 percent of voter participation which tripled in a matter of 16 years. After the controversial “corrupt bargain” of 1824, voters were determined to have their voices heard in order to bring who they truly wanted into power. In addition to the rise of participation, the percentage of state allowing the common voters themselves to chose presidential electors climbed to almost 100%. Andrew Jackson assisted the increase of voters, he removed the requirements and opened up the voting pool to more common folk; this gave the common people more power equal to that of the aristocracy.…
A. In the election of 1824, there were four towering candidates: Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, Henry Clay of Kentucky, William H. Crawford of Georgia, and John Q. Adams of Massachusetts. All four called themselves Republicans. Three were a “favorite son” of their respective region but Clay thought of himself as a national figure (he was Speaker of the House and author of the “American System”).…
The Second Great Awakening was the push that brought on these reform movements. Beginning in New England, in the late 1790s, and later spreading throughout the country, the Second Great Awakening brought on a new way to look at life. People felt freer to announce their thoughts. They weren't limited to choices about G-d and strict rules of Calvinism which before ravaged through the country, setting people's minds in narrow-minded ways. The Second Great Awakening brought on the idea that G-d may or may not exist, and it was up to the people to decide what they wished to believe. More then ever, tolerance spread throughout the nation, and people grew more eager to challenge other established institutions in which they believed their views may be tolerated--and accepted as well.…
There were several changes that took place during the first portion of the 1800s in American politics. “Four factors contributed to the rise of the of a new kind of politics in the 1820s and 1830s: (1) economic booms and busts caused Americans to feel that the government should be more responsive to their needs; (2) the expansion of the franchise, or vote, allowed greater numbers of American men to participate in politics; and (3) the contentious presidential election of 1824 led the entire nation to become increasingly political, which (4) drive the rise of mass parties and the second two-party systems.” (Schultz, n.d.). Americans came to the western lands to settle and make communities of their own including building railroads to have a…
The reformers of the Great Awakening were very effective in achieving their goals due to their future advancements, and the major reform movements included reforms in abolition, Women's rights, and Temperance. The abolition movement spread the idea that that slavery was wrong. It would eventually lead to the outlaw of slavery during the Civil War. The women's rights movement was started during the 2nd Great Awakening, and will lead to rights that women of today have. Alcohol abuse caused a strong belief for the temperance and would later start the strong prohibition movement.…
The reforms following the 2nd great awakening sought to expand democratic ideals in political aspects by fighting for political justice for Americans. For instance, the women's movement began after the female community, caught up in the fervor of the awakening, realized they too could 'purify' the country. Several leaders began to emerge such as Susan B Anthony, Catharine Beecher, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These women sought to gain women's suffrage, freedom from their male spouses, rights to work and to be educated, rights to property, and representation in the government which they had taxed to support. In 1848, they specifically stated their motives for reform at Seneca Falls, NY in their 'Declaration of Sentiments' (doc.I). The women's rights movement sought for liberty and justice for women, both major components of democratic ideals. The women's movement slowly faded as the overpowering abolition movement came into focus.…
“The Era of Good Feeling” was a time of increased nationalism and prosperity for the nation. This of course is not completely true, debates over many important issues created a crack in the outward appearance of harmony during President Monroe’s two terms. These issues include sectionalism, foreign policy of isolationism and the rights of states vs. the rights of the federal government.…
The Second Great Awakening was a spiritual resurgence that saw early Americans dedicate themselves not only to Christian ideals but also to freeing the slaves. The northern wing of the Second Great Awakening led to social reform (387). It was characterized by large camp meetings where the ideals of egalitarianism, a belief in human equality, were exposed to the masses of people who attended. These meetings were highly attended and promoted a sense of community and social discipline (383). One of these areas of egalitarianism gave rise to the abolition movement (Religious Transformation).…
* The Second Great Awakening gave way to uprising amongst all people, namely women and blacks, for more rights, and sparked the beginning of the feminist and abolitionist reform movements.…
Foremost, the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival, helped to expand democratic ideals by raising the standards and morals of the common man. Charles G. Finney believed that if people focused on religion and the church then “…the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow,” (Doc B). He said that it would also lead to the conversion of many diverse people including “harlots, drunkards, and infidels,” due to reforms in the church. With the belief that goodness led to salvation, many people in the communities were surrounded by good deeds for humanity. It offered a more uplifting view upon life where, “…the rich have many troubles which we know nothing of; and that the poor, if they are but good, may be very happy, indeed…” (Doc E). Along with equality and goodness among others, the reforms of prisons and treatment of the mentally ill were also changing through Dorthea Dix. The benefits of these reforms where seen by “rescuing [the prisoners] from vice and rendering them valuable members of society, (Doc A). Another very important reform was the beginning of the women’s movement where they desired increased freedom “to declare our right to be as free as man is free,” (Doc I). All of…
The Second Great Awakening had quite revivals in the American society. There were reformers of every kind that came together to improve women’s rights, education and religious righteousness. The mainstream of the movement were the temperance reformers who fought for a change in alcoholism, and abolitionist.…
The Second Great Awakening, also known as the Great Revival, changed not only the upper class, well-educated people’s perspective of religious teachings, but also the lower and less wealthy class. This Great Awakening was not specific to any area of America, but it was mainly active in the Northeast and Midwest. This awakening brought to attention the rights of people, including women and slaves, and abstinence from alcohol. This lead to people making decisions in their life and becoming more aware of the politics and the corruptness of the south.…
The reform movements were centered on democratic ideas. One powerful and widespread movement in antebellum America was the fight for women’s rights. Many citizens called for the right by women to vote and the equality of women. They wanted women to have the freedom and equality that men do and as well as the right to vote. Also the invention of the cotton gin helped the cotton movement. The South increased the use of slavery in many states, which led to the reform movements started by those opposing slavery. Due to the Second Great Awakening, many people led a powerful movement against slavery called the abolitionist movement. This movement would eventually force people in the south to stop using slaves and find another way of making money from crop production. Another reform movement they were focused on was education. They wanted to have public school educations which first started in Massachusetts. They wanted to produce a better educated generation that would help them in the…