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George Washington's Farewell Address

Decent Essays

Near the end of his second term, our first president, George Washington, wrote a letter to “friends and fellow-citizens,” that someday would become one of the most famous speeches of all time. Published in David C. Claypoole’s American Daily Adviser, on September 19, 1796 was George Washington's Farewell Speech. The speech was used to warn us Americans about republicanism, support of the republic system of government. He also warned us about discrimination between the parties. Also, the diffusion of knowledge and how important it is to have the public’s opinion enlightened. Somethings, if Washington was alive right now, he would feel pleased with how we as a nation reacted to his speech while, on the other hand, he would feel dismay for how we …show more content…

There are many ways why Washington would be pleased with how we reacted and acted after his farewell speech. On the other hand, there are ways he would be dismayed. Washington would be pleased about how we give knowledge and allow the public opinion in the government. As he wrote in his speech, “...primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion [spreading] of knowledge,” and also, “...gives forces to the public opinion, it is essential that the public opinion be enlightened.” We spread information by using television, and the internet overall. For example, the 2016 election, it was one of the first time that social media was used in the election. Also, you could have found a lot of poll results on the television at almost any time. If we lived back in the day of George Washington, some people didn’t even know who the president was till a little while after the election. That is something that Washington would be pleased with, but there are many ways why he would be dismayed with us Americans about how we reacted to his farewell speech. Washington would be dismayed because he

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