George Washington's Resignation Speech Essay

An analysis of George Washington’s Farewell Address shows that there were three points he wanted to stress. The points being his decision not to be considered for a 3rd term, his advice to the country to stand united, and his advice to the future leaders of the country concerning foreign policy.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He attended school for approximately eight years. Washington lived with his mother until the age of 16. At the age of 15, Washington took a job as an assistant land surveyor. In 1748, he began working in the Shanandoah Valley to help survey the land holdings of Lord Fairfax. By 1749, he established a good reputation as a land surveyor and was appointed Culpeper counties official land surveyor.

George Washington, the first president of the United States, had written a very important historical speech and document towards the end of his time in office. He had written the Farewell address which focused on helping America understand the importance of preserving unity, acknowledging the rise of political parties forming, strengthening religion and morality, and he stated his position on American foreign policy. He addressed these ideas with strong tone and used incredible amount of dictions that strengthens his tone as well as representing his appeal to ethos to a strong degree. However, today’s society seemed to forget Washington’s position on foreign policy and has created a new form of the policy. But nonetheless as time grew,

Many people often think about who was the one president who really did our country justice. Who was the one president who, out of all forty-two, beats everyone and takes the gold for best president in the history of American presidents? Not everyone who agrees with these thoughts is going to agree with the answer each other gives. However, I bet many of those same people would argue that George Washington was the best president out of all of them.

“Washington’s Farewell Address” speech is a compelling and inspiring speech that lifted the spirits of Americans while George Washington rejected taking the third term of President of the United States. This speech is very easy to read because of the rhetorical and literary devices he uses. This speech's significance is to reject Washington’s third term and motivate America, and it accomplishes both. “Washington’s Farewell Address” is a compelling and remarkable speech because of how Washington captivates the reader with ethos, pathos, logos, and figurative

When George Washington was elected President in 1789 by members of the fledgling United States of America, he was setting into motion a tradition that has stood the test of over 225 years - the presidential election. Even as the United States has seen dozens of wars, made hundreds of scientific advances, and selected thousands of politicians to seats everywhere from small town councils to Congress, the principles of the election have remained the same; the people band together to determine who will best protect their interests at home and assure that the US will always remain on top in foreign policy. Oftentimes, this is found to be a difficult decision, as public opinion is constantly wavering. One sees this in action particularly during the 1992 election - a battle of wills between Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Ross Perot; complete with lead changes, major vote swings, and Perot’s unprecedented initial success - ultimately a false alarm to the bipartisan establishment.

George Washington’s Presidential Farewell Address consisted of three critical elements that were considered vital for the functional survival of the country that had just won its independence. On September 19, 1796, President Washington advised the nation to stand together as one united country, warned the people about the dangers of political parties and he established foundational reasons for the country to not become over involved in foreign affairs. These three principles set forth an understanding that was monumental for American society. Their level of importance serves as a near perfect reflection to both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution as the building blocks to a great nation. Each of these three principles, even though they were not written as laws, went on as a tradition for this nation; each being clung to with the same level of importance and integrity as the Founders sought in the aforestated documents of freedom.

In Felix Gilbert’s book, To the Farewell Address, Gilbert analyzes the historical context surrounding George Washington’s speech and the implications the circumstances surrounding the speech and the ideological struggle of American power politics of the time. Most notably how the conflicting ideologies epitomized the times and the hand Alexander Hamilton played in the drafting of the speech.

Many people know George Washington as the first president of the United States but most don’t know the real George Washington aside from that. George was born into a family that consisted of a mother, a father and his nine other siblings. When Washington was 11 years old his father died and was put in the care of his half brother Lawrence.

George Washington wrote a farewell speech in 1796, marking the retirement of his leadership of the United States of America. He published his goodbye, titled his “Farewell Address,” in many papers. The long, revised copy of his speech, originally intended to be read at the end of his first term, tells of how he wanted to retire four years previous, but how he had been begged to stay on. He states that he never considered himself to be worthy of leading the

An Analysis of George Washington's Farewell Address Carmen Williams Liberty University: GOVT 200-B102 Professor Edward Soto George Washington's Farewell Address is one of the most eloquent pieces of literature delivered. It's content and intent constitutes that of a man who was not only prophetic, but a sage. His Farewell Address was printed in the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796. The Address was not merely a statement of resignation, but an open letter of advisement exemplifying unity, in addition to warning the American people about their long-term freedom and pursuit of happiness. There are twenty key points in Washington's Farewell Address; however the focus will be on five of these: (1) The Preservation of the Union. (2) The Danger of Factions. (3) Religion and Morality. (4) Preservation of Public Credit. (5) America's Role in the World. The Preservation of the Union. Washington's persistent theme throughout the Farewell Address is the preservation of the Union as the crux of American Nationhood. In paragraph 9 Washington notes the Union, "is the main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." Washington warns of those, internally and externally, who would covertly work to destroy the foundation on which America was built. In paragraph 10, Washington accentuates the far greater significance

On September 19, 1796 General George Washington gave his farewell address to the people of the United States on his declining of the presidency. This address had been immediately reprinted into newspapers that sold all around the country. George Washington talks about how the citizens of the United States should be grateful for the country that they live in. He explains how the term, “American,” should always be said with pride in your country. “Sports and Patriotism” relates to Washington’s farewell speech by players kneeling at football games, the Pentagon providing money for its national sports teams, and American runners raising their fists at the podium at the Summer Olympics of 1968.

In the words of George Washington, “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor…” Benjamin Franklin stated, “In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. . Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace…” Then Franklin stated something with so much wisdom generation after generation ought to ask themselves. “And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?” Have we? That powerful Friend asks for us to humble ourselves and pray. Pray for in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our publick Councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high,… that he would bless and prosper the means of education… that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies….That he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our sins, and receive us into his favour; and finally, that he would establish the … United States upon

Washington was selected for president while we were in a crisis. He ended up not wanting to run for a 3rd term. While he was in office, he saw potential dangers that could make our state go down hill. To help our nation he wrote a Farewell Address. Based on Washington’s experiences as president, he predicted that we should come together and unite, that we should not have enemies, but also not to have really close allies and to treat them equally, and to follow the Constitution.

Washington resigns from his presidency, and he presents the farewell address in a newspaper that became published September 17, 1996. Hamilton, his secretary, drafted the first address for him. Washington says, “the basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government” (216), and during the Colonial Era the people did not have that right because the crown led the government. The 13 colonies were under the British rule and their extreme taxes, and they revolted resulting in the American Revolution. George Washington along with the rest of the founding fathers joined together in the creating of the Constitution. In his address he focuses on his best achievements, and what concerns him. Washington’s farewell address expresses the growth in America from the Colonial era through his resignation, and also a warning for future complications.