During the Era of Good Feelings under the presidency of James Monroe, foreign conflict decreased but internal disputes began to rise due to Response area, or loyalty to one's state or section rather than the nation as a whole.
During the Era of Good Feelings, which lasted from 1817 to 1825, there was indeed a decrease in foreign conflict for the United States. This period followed the War of 1812, which had ended in 1815, and there were no major conflicts with other nations during Monroe's presidency.
However, while external conflicts diminished, internal disputes began to rise. One of the main causes of these internal disputes was sectionalism, or loyalty to one's own region or state rather than to the nation as a whole. This sectionalism was fueled by various factors, including differences in economic interests, political ideologies, and cultural identities between different regions of the United States.
Economically, the nation was divided into distinct regions with different economic systems. The North was predominantly industrial, with a growing manufacturing sector, while the South relied heavily on agriculture, specifically slave-based plantation economies. This economic divide led to tensions and disagreements over issues such as tariffs and internal improvements, as each region sought policies that would benefit its own economic interests.
Politically, there was a growing divide between the Democratic-Republicans, who dominated national politics at the time, and the emergence of the Federalist Party. While the Federalists had lost much of their influence, their ideas and supporters remained active in some regions. Additionally, there were disagreements within the Democratic-Republican Party itself, leading to factionalism and disagreements over issues such as the role of the federal government and the expansion of slavery.
Culturally, different regions of the country had distinct identities and values. The North was becoming increasingly urbanized and industrialized, with a greater emphasis on education, commerce, and social reform movements. In contrast, the South maintained a more agrarian and traditional way of life, centered around plantation agriculture and a hierarchical social structure. These cultural differences, particularly regarding issues such as slavery and moral values, contributed to the growing sectional tensions.
Overall, while the Era of Good Feelings witnessed a decrease in foreign conflict, it also saw the rise of internal disputes and sectionalism within the United States. These disagreements over economic, political, and cultural issues would ultimately lead to the fracturing of the national unity and the eruption of the Civil War decades later.