During the Era of Good Feelings, the country utilized the driving force of nationalism to unify itself through its time of prospering and developing as a nation. However, territorial and state rights were extremely imperative for the country’s political agenda. The question of sectionalisms effect has not as often been discussed even though sectionalism was an influential factor in both economics and politics. Both sectionalism and nationalism are not mutually exclusive beliefs but have developed along with each other throughout history. Although they have both affected the United States in different ways during this era, they were both in equally important ways.
Nationalism played a large role in the era, due to the fact that it defined it for the most part. this nationalistic attitude influenced the arts as well as the political and economic ideals brought about by this air of unity within the nation.