...George Washington’s “Farewell Address” 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 country, and then goes on to give his thoughts and opinions of many matters in the government. Looking at the way he had led the country for the previous eight years, and the 45 he had given to serving it, should only make this country want to heed his warnings and advice. George Washington was a great man, with the country’s best interest at heart and mind, and only gave his honest opinion regarding many subjects such as the importance of national union and the constitution. He also spoke of the evils and dangers of political parties and debt, and stressed the importance of religion and morality in our government. In all honesty, no man ever left a more dignified farewell. Many people fought and died to make this country a nation; a whole....
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...Abstract Though some of the greatest political minds of the time, including Alexander Hamilton and John Jay assisted in the effort, the final draft was Washington’s. Without question the address portrayed his ideals and principals. 1) The Benefits of Unity Washington encourages the American people to stay united “That your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual” His desire was for them to protect the sanctity of the Constitution, and to insure that it is administered with wisdom and virtue. He addresses the unity of government with the people. Washington states that unity is what will hold America together and in fact is the very foundation that supports it. "The unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." The American people should never take for granted the “Collective and individual happiness” and they should watch for, and take every measure at their disposal to protect these liberties from threats both from within, and outside the United States. Washington encouraged a strong infrastructure for the Union “Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the union of the whole” Washington foresaw the importance of a common government and unified laws, that would encourage commercial enterprise and trade between the different geographical...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...Written in 1796, but never given orally, George Washington’s Farewell Address was a clear end to his two terms as President. In the speech, Washington’s main point is how the newly formed United States can achieve unity that would ensure a strong government. The areas identified by Washington include citizens working together, a no political party system and remaining neutral when dealing with foreign nations. Washington believed that when citizens pull together they achieve more. Probably best evidenced in how he selected people to fill positions in his administration. Rather than choosing his friends, Washington chose the most qualified individuals. Young statesmen such as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton provided differing viewpoints eventually putting them at odds with each other and Washington. Yet, Washington was firm in his conviction that the differences in opinion can bring about consensus and compromise. He addressed this point...
Words: 653 - Pages: 3
...Washington’s Farewell Address Analysis George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796) was a speech given to the public before his departure from office. He used this speech to voice his political philosophy before retiring. Today, Washington’s Farewell Address is known as one of the most important speeches in American History because of the advice he gave to the American people. Before stepping down as president of the United States, Washington wanted to highlight some major points that could become the downfall of the nation. The first major point he brings up is the importance of political parties and how the people should be wary of them. Washington stated that, “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...George Washington’s Farewell address is a letter of resignation written to the American people stating his advice and warnings of long term safety and happiness. Washington’s letter was released to the public in September 1796 but “drafted in 1792, with the help of James Madison,” as he prepared to retire to Mount Vernon following his first term. Wikipedia.com/Washington’s farewell address. Washington’s main concerns were unity of the states, upholding the constitution, foreign alliances, government spending, religion, morality and education. UNITY OF THE STATES. Washington begins his warnings that their independence, at home and abroad, safety, prosperity, and liberty all depend on the unity of states. That their union will come under attack by foreign and domestic enemies of America “as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed”, to be suspicious and look down upon anyone who seeks to abandon the union or weaken the Constitution, to look beyond any slight differences between them in religion and politics and place their independence and freedom above all else, “With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles”, and the dangers of sectionalism arguing that the true motives are to create distrust or rivalries between regions and people to gain power and take control of...
Words: 960 - Pages: 4
...Washington’s Farewell Address George Washington’s farewell address is essentially a list of three warnings that he has for our country. He suggests to have a unified government,to stay neutral between other countries, and to have separation of powers. Washington informs us that he will not be running for a third term and is stepping down from office.In all his power, he tried to stabilize the economy and improve the country Although he made the decision to leave, in all his power, he tried to stabilize the economy and improve the country and made it very clear that he still cares for our well being but must not continue being our leader. Washington saw new problems unfold in the nation and he sensed dangers for the new country. He addressed our problems that were occuring back then and the same ones that are still growing today....
Words: 470 - Pages: 2
...George Washington was one of our founding fathers and arguably one of the most influential Presidents we have ever had. He accomplished many beneficial things while he was in office, such as helping find a way to get rid of debt, helping our nation keep peace throughout both of his terms, and showing his power by stopping rebellions. All of these were amazing for this nation, but his farewell address was not official law, and we should not have to adhere to his suggestions and obey them. In his farewell letter, George Washington wrote, “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” It may have been key into staying out of war and keeping peace, but just look at World War II. If we...
Words: 767 - Pages: 4
...George Washington was chosen as first president after the Revolutionary War, by the electoral college. He served as president for eight years, two terms, and set many precedents for the presidents that served after him. Including, but not limited to, having a cabinet of advisers, only running for two terms, and personally responding to rebellions. By the end of his second term he was more than ready to retire. He was concerned about the country so he wrote a farewell address including his advice to later presidents and citizens. Based on the experiences he had as president, he told us not to form political parties, therefore disunifying the country; not to veer off of the constitution; and not to be bias to any country during a foreign war, to stay neutral....
Words: 630 - Pages: 3
...George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789. This former president was deemed as an inspirational leader. The news of his farewell address shocked many and quickly spread throughout America. In the past 220 years, our nation has been affected by the claims and suggestions made by Washington. Our unity, political parties and alliances were foreseen in his famous farewell address. Unity in America has been famously celebrated on Independence Day. However, the nation is still divided. Based on a survey conducted by NY Times, a large amount of people considered themselves as patriotic. There was also a large amount who believed that America was not a united nation. George Washington believed that people needed to have common interests and ideas to be united. Since America is a divided nation with many different ideas and interests, it supports Washington’s claim that it can’t be united. The North and South caused a big conflict throughout the world. Their difference in beliefs about slavery caused them to drift apart. In Washington’s farewell address, he claims that the two continents will become united and will benefit from...
Words: 460 - Pages: 2
...Washington’s Farewell Address George Washington decided that he was done with being president in 1796 . Washington had many important decisions to make and had immense pressure to set good examples for a young and fragile nation. He had to set precedents for how the nation’s government would run and how they would deal with foreign affairs. Washington had many different and new experiences as president, and those experiences led him to warn America of three things not to do. His three warnings in his farewell address were creating political parties, staying debt free, and doing only your job in government. In his farewell address, George Washington warned about creating political parties. When he advised Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, he could see that they had opposing views on how to run the new country. He thought that political parties would lead to division in the United States, according to this quote: ”It is justly so, for it is the main pillar in the edifice of your real independence…” Washington could tell that opposing views could lead to division, and could cause the nation to implode, or leave it vulnerable to attack. The newly formed nation was too fragile to break apart again....
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...In George Washington’s Farewell Address and the Monroe Doctrine, both documents warned America to stay out of Europe’s frequent wars and stick to America’s isolationist principles. Woodrow Wilson aimed to fix the interior problems of the United States and was an isolationist. President Woodrow Wilson was a progressive who wanted to create a world with democracy. His ideal of “Moral Diplomacy,” was that people had the right to choose their own form of government and leaders through democratic elections because it had to represent the leaders of the government had to represent the ideals of the governed. This idea was used when there was a revolution in Mexico where General Huerta seized power and Wilson believed that Huerta’s actions were wrong so he sent troops to occupy a port to cut off...
Words: 521 - Pages: 3
...Throughout the “Farewell Address”, George Washington tries to bring about points that would make a strong and unified union through his ideas. He includes points over having parties and how they could turn into separation. He also includes point over having a moral society, using money in proper ways, as well as the way the country should interact with foreign countries. He formed a basis of government and the basis of the constitution to be formed for the future country. Within each part of his speech he goes over many important points that could potentially occur within the forming country. In one of his points he tries to explain the dangers of having parties within the nation. The separation of the nation could only break the union apart. He says, “The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual;” George uses this quote to show the evil that come out of a man when given parties that separate. The separation of parties make men feel that they are stronger than others rather than finding each other as equals. The separation could weaken the government rather than strengthen it....
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...George Washington's Farewell Address – A Practical Summary Genova T. Spencer Government 200-S02 Professor Edward Soto June 24, 2013 George Washington's Farewell Address – A Practical Summary 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. George Washington’s belief in singular national unity was not just an abstract ideal built without fundamental understanding. It was a pragmatic understanding erected on a clear unifying belief, that in order to maintain a nation to build a singular belief in country; it needed a singular belief in purpose. In his...
Words: 1005 - Pages: 5
...December 2013 Washington’s Farewell Address No person in history has ever taken on such as strenuous a role as George Washington did as the first President of the newly formed United States of America. The country had just gained independence from the greatest power in the world at the time, but the biggest challenge would come ahead; the making of a country. This journey began with the creation of the Constitution and the first President of the United States taking office; George Washington. Although he did not willingly accept his duty, he ended up serving eight terms as the first President. In his farewell address to the nation, Washington warned the young country of what he believed to be the downfall for the nation. These warnings included the exclusion of foreign affair, a way to conserve and prosper financially, and no political parties. Even though Washington was such a successful President, these warnings were not followed by any means, and even today America does offend every single one of these warnings, although not each one proving costly to the nation. Washington lived in a time where people gave their lives to be independent from a mother country. By experience, he knew that a country operates better when it is unaltered by other countries. In his farewell address, Washington says that it is understandable to have commercial relations with a country, but America should “have with them as little political connection as possible” (Farewell Address). Washington...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...A Farewell To America During one of the most pivotal points in American history George Washington decided he had served our country to the fullest of his ability and needed to step down so the country could continue to prosper politically, financially, and nationally. Washington had spent the majority of his life defending the colonies from any number of attackers such as; Native Americans, the British, and political factions. He was the independent light at the end of the tyrannical tunnel of British rule. He urged the American people that in order to keep the light of freedom burning bright forever, there were some things he needed them to keep in mind throughout time. Washington’s Farewell Address was a letter to the people, for the people, to explain the necessity of those illuminating concepts that would keep the darkness of corruption and fascism at bay. Most importantly Washington wrote his Farewell Address in a manor that conveyed a true sense of pride and camaraderie to the people. He explained that he had spent the vast majority of his life defending, in one way or another, America as a whole. He understood that he had been a vital asset to the foundation of the constitution and the formation of a republican representative government. Washington apologized for any wrong doings he may have made during his time of presidency and thanked the American people for supporting him throughout the difficulties. Washington spelled out the need for his retirement, his appreciation...
Words: 1265 - Pages: 6
