276. The Era as a Whole.-The years 1815-24 have been called the Era of Good Feeling, because there was no hard political fighting in all that time-at least not until the last year or two. In 1816 Monroe was elected President without much opposition. In 1820 he was reelected President without any opposition whatever. Instead of fighting over politics, the people were busily employed in bringing vast regions of the West under cultivation and in founding great manufacturing industries in the East. They were also making roads and canals to connect the Western farms with the Eastern cities and factories. The later part of the era was a time of unbounded prosperity. Every now and then some hard question would come up for discussion. Its settlement would be put off, or the matter would be compromised. In these years the Federalist party disappeared, and the Republican party split into factions. By 1824 the differences in the Republican party had become so great that there was a sudden ending to the Era of Good Feeling.

277. Western Emigration.-During the first few years of this period the people of the older states on the seacoast felt very poor. The shipowners could no longer make great profits. For now there was peace in Europe, and European vessels competed with American vessels.