Washington's Farewell Speech Analysis

Even though Washington was president, he did not care to be more powerful, he wanted to be an equal. “His appointments advanced the idea that the best-qualified people should be tapped for office.” (Establishment of presidency) Washington decided that to have a secure foundation for a country he needed the best qualified people, not peers or friends looking for power. This shows that Washington does not want to benefit people or himself, he wants what is best for his country. Washington also wanted to restrain his power and always ask for help when needed. “He understood his own limitations and was not reluctant to rely upon the counsel of others.” (Establishment of presidency) This shows that even if Washington was president, his effective leadership and country is more important than his

In his farewell address, Washington warned against political parties and foreign affairs. The first two political parties, Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, formed pretty much right after Washington left office. However, we did follow the advice to stay out of foreign affairs up until the presidency of James Madison and the War of 1812. John Adams stayed away from war with France and England and Thomas Jefferson passed the Embargo act to try to stay out of the mess of war. During James Monroe’s presidency, we have the Monroe Doctrine to warn other nations not to come and mess with the United States. The European nations heeded this warning and we stayed out of any conflict. In later years, we did not follow the advice to form political

“Spirit of party generally” (political parties) and “a passionate attachment of one nation for another” (neutrality) were two of the concerns in George Washington’s Farewell Address.

If the nation was not neutral in foreign affairs the country would become divided. In Washington’s Farewell Address, he warned the country about having political division because he believed that would also separate the country. George Washington’s contributions were attempts to keep the country unified and out of foreign wars. President Washington’s ideas such as establishing a cabinet and policies such as neutrality helped stabilize government.

However, George Washington provided a common defense and maintained domestic tranquility. Take the Whiskey Rebellion for example, farmers revolted against a tax passed by Congress and it did not end well. As stated in America: The History of Our Nation, “Some Pennsylvania farmers who were against the tax started a violent protest. Washington sent federal troops to Pennsylvania, showing that armed rebellion would not be accepted.” The reason for this rebellion was because of the tax Congress put on whiskey made and sold in the country, which is why it is called the Whiskey Rebellion. This uprising tested the will of the new government, however Washington’s forceful response showed Americans that armed rebellion was not acceptable in a republic. Furthermore, when Washington left office, in his farewell address he made two major points. Firstly, he warned against political divisions, he feared that violent divisions might tear the nation apart. Secondly, he stated that the United States should not get entangled in foreign affairs. Probably because if they did interfere in foreign affairs the citizens of the United States may support different sides, which would create issues within the country that might tear it apart. These points contribute to the fact that Washington maintained domestic tranquility and provided common

The first point concerning his decision not to be considered for a 3rd term was something that Washington had given a lot of thought to and had even decided to do before the beginning of his 2nd term. He had even gone so far as to write a farewell address at the end of what he believe to be his first and only term as President, the reason he accepted the 2nd term was due to the uncertain stability of the young country, the uncertain status of

George Washington protected the rights of the people. George Washington says this, “I...warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of political parties.” He also says this, “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations

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.

The Farewell Address embodied Washington’s political principles and hopes for the United States, a newly developed nation, to grow strong and remain independent. He stressed the importance of national unity. Despite the confidence Washington had for his country to continue to thrive without his leadership, he felt obligated to forewarn the American people and future generations the greatest dangers, or threats, to the United States. Washington believed threats such as political parties, and associations with foreign alliances could weaken the nation. Today, it is believed that the Farewell Address is a prophetic warning for contemporary politics.

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

He was beloved by all American’s and undoubtedly the most ethical man that some even wanted to be the monarch. Washington believed in a Republic foundation for the United States and to prove his devotion to his beliefs, he was going to resign after his first four-year term of his presidency with his farewell address. He assigned James Madison to draft it with the help of his revision to ensure these were his ideas. He returned to office for another term because of the support and request of the people and his cabinet put the Farewell Address away. He planned this to be his last term shortly after his reelected through his second term he had grabbed his Farewell Address and had his good friend, Hamilton revise the address but Hamilton had to stay true to Washington’s values rather than his own values. There is speculation of who truly wrote the Farewell address because the voice of both Hamilton and Washington is apparent in the article. Then released “on September 19, 1796, an article addressed to ‘the PEOPLE of the United States’ appeared on the inside pages of the American Daily Advertiser,” for all Americans to read of Washington’s final plan (121). 3. Washington’s decision to resign showed the critics that he was not a monarch and created a political two-term tradition until Theodore Roosevelt, which led to the revision of the law to the limit the presidency to a two-term policy. If the resignation of Washington never happened the government could have been more like a monarchy but highly unlikely as well as the division of the government into parties, which he wanted the government to avoid might have been prevented or stalled in history creating a more ‘United’ States of

Another focus Washington included in his farewell address was his strong support for religion and morality. Washington touched upon explaining how morality cannot be achieved without religion thus proclaiming the importance of religion. He proceeded to talk about how morality was the key to electing popular candidates running for government and if religion is not emphasized in the union, morality is hard to attain which corrupts government. Another main focus Washington promoted was how political parties should be repressed. He felt that the political parties tend to get out of hand in competing with each other and thus cause distractions in the government. The concern he showed was strongly toward the Republican-Democratic Party and the Federalist Party.

Washington had also been heard to say that “to only stay away from any political parties such as the Republicans and Democrats, along with the rest of the other parties after the second president Jefferson had his own party of Jeffersonian but they didn’t follow what he asked for or about almost immediately.

In the late 1700s, the United States had began to split into two factions: Federalists and Antifederalists. Factions are groups of citizens united by a common interest. The reasoning behind the differing views of how the government works across the world was best said by Locke “Men are equal in a natural sense, but society establishes many dimensions that are unequal”. (Barbour and Wright, 2017). In the states, Federalists wanted a strong central government while anti-federalists wanted a weak one. “The Georgians, for example, wanted a strong central authority to provide military protection for their huge, underpopulated state against the Creek Confederacy; Jerseymen and Connecticuters wanted to escape from economic bondage to New York; the Virginians hoped to establish a system which would give that great state its rightful place in the councils of the republic” (Roche, 800). The one thing they agreed on was having George Washington as president. George Washington tried to be a neutral leader of the United States and suggested for the states to stay together rather than divide into factions. “Thomas Jefferson is credited as stating: “North and South will hang together if they have you to hang on””(Jamison, 2016).

“Washington’s Farewell Address” is a compelling and inspiring speech that lifts the spirits of Americans while George Washington rejects taking a third term as President of the United States. This speech was never spoken to an audience, however, the speech was published in the American Daily Advertiser newspaper. This speech was created by George Washington, but James Madison and Alexander Hamilton helped Washington edit the document. It took George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton 5 years to publish the speech. The speech was finally published in 1796.