...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...
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...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....
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...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...
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...Edward G. Lengel, a professor from the University of Virginia, defines the immortalization of Washington’s character, personality, and legacy in his book Inventing George Washington: America’s Founder in Myth and Memory. This book was written with the intention of representing the real Washington, through information gained from the Papers of George Washington, where Lengel serves as chief editor. Its purpose is to educate those that yearn for more knowledge of the first president and who he was as an individual. Over centuries, the image the world holds of General George Washington has shifted. As society changed, whom we think Washington has changed as well. People see Washington as a stoic hero that built the foundation for what is now the United States of America. After the careful examination of letters, diaries, and personal statements from Washington, it is clear what type of person he was. They proved that Washington showed two different personalities. Lengel states, “He became two different men: a...
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...Freedom. Equality. Justice. These were all some of George Washington’s many goals when he founded the United States. He fought for them in the Jane Addams, in her 1903 address to the Union League Club, uses George Washington’s life and legacy in order to emphasize the problems within society, achieve her political agenda, and create a call to action. She uses elevated diction, visual imagery, and rhetorical questions throughout her speech, emphasizing the need for change, creating an adoring, yet persistent, tone. Addams begins her speech with a rhetorical question. “What is a great man who has made his mark upon history?” she ponders. While she continues to answer this question, she utilizes it to hook you in. It creates an interest in...
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...The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA) is the private, non-profit organization that has owned and operated George Washington’s Mount Vernon since 1860. Founded by Ann Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina, the Association is the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. In 1853, Miss Cunningham’s mother observed the dilapidated Mount Vernon Mansion from a boat in the Potomac River. She was horrified at the sight of Washington’s once grand house covered with peeling paint and overgrown weeds. Its famous piazza was nearing collapse, propped up by old sailing masts. “I was painfully distressed,” she later wrote to her daughter, “at the ruin and desolation of the home of Washington, and the thought passed through my mind: Why was it that the women of his country did not try to keep it in repair, if the men could not do it?” Inspired by her mother’s conviction, Ann Pamela Cunningham launched a campaign to raise the funds necessary to purchase and preserve the home of Washington. The Association she founded in 1853 included a network of supporters working under a council of 13 women from across the nation. They appealed to the American people to raise $200,000 in an unprecedented grassroots fundraising campaign. Five years later...
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...In his autobiography “George Washington and the American Military Tradition,” Don Higginbotham explores the reciprocity of members of military, soldiers and politicians who molded George Washington’s career in military and fundamentally cultivated the achievement that made our nation independent. Higginbotham also focuses on the legacy of Washington’s triumph, showing that the important mix of civil and military affairs which was hallmark of American Revolution has been diversely considered and only rarely recapitulated by American soldiers from subsequent generations. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Bridges Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia. When Washington was eleven years old, his father passed away. He was tossed from one household to another after the death of his father. He spent some of his childhood with his mother who lived in Fredericksburg, with a few relatives from Westmoreland, and with his step brother in Mount Vernon....
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...George Washington was the first President of the United States of America, and general of the revolutionary war. George was a Virginia planter, surveyor, and land speculator for 15 years, before he got into conventional armies. Despite having small practical experience in handling large, conventional armies, Washington proved to be a capable and resilient leader of the American military forces during the war. In July of 1775, George Washington accompanied Braddock on an expedition and served as an aide-de-camp. Braddock assigned Washington to several duties during the war which gained him recognition. Although Washington was only a volunteer, he saved Braddock’s army from extermination during the French and Indian War. Moreover, in 1775,...
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...Fast Facts on George Washington * Born: February 22, 1732 Pope’s Creek, Virginia * Children: no natural children (Adopted the children of Martha Custis) *Grandfather by marriage of Confederate General Robert E. Lee * Military Service: Commander General, Revolutionary War * Profession: Surveyor/Planter * Political Party: Federalist * Home State: Virginia * Political Offices: Chairman of Constitutional Convention * Died: December 14, 1799 (Age- 670 Last Words: “I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. “Tis well.” Buried: Mount Vernon, Virginia * Term of Office: April 30, 1789 – March 3, 1797 * Number Of Terms Elected: 2 Terms * Nickname: “Father of Our country” * First Lady: Martha Dandridge Custis * George Washington quote: “I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of me conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.” * Major Events While In Office: * Elected to first term with a unanimous electoral vote. (1789) * First United States census(1790) * District of Columbia Established(1791) * States Entering Union While in Office: * Vermont(1791) * Kentucky(1792) * Tennessee(1796) Childhood and Education Washington was born on February 22, 1732. He lost his father at age 11 and his half-brother, Lawrence, took over that role. Washington’s mother was protective and demanding, keeping him from joining the British Navy as Lawrence wanted. Lawrence owned Mount Vernon...
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...During George Washington’s life, he made a lasting impact on the world. George inspired people to speak against England, became the first president of the United States of America, and much more. His legacy will forever be imprinted in the world as the man who paved a new road for people. George Washington was born in Virginia on February 22, 1732. He spent most of childhood time at a plantation named Ferry Farm. George gained an interest of plants at a young age. After his father’s passing when George was just eleven years old, it is believed he helped his mother manage the plantation in his father’s place. George Washington finished his formal schooling around the age of fifteen. During his schooling, George took an interest in mathematics, and from there he became a surveyor. George was introduced to surveying during his schooling. He made most of his profit from surveying in the Virginia wilderness and through his work, he was able to obtain land of his own. Even though George was a very intelligent, dedicated student, he never attended college....
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...John Adams, a devoted republican and staunch advocate for balanced government, played a pivotal role in shaping the Yankee Revolution. His commitment to the concept of a balance of strength within governments and amongst countries was foundational to maintaining liberty and American independence. Adams's diplomatic efforts, particularly in Europe, showcased his strategic use of American trade to preserve a delicate equilibrium between France and Britain, reflecting his republican outlook on worldwide members of the family. notwithstanding grappling with issues about American virtue, Adams's unwavering determination to ideas of liberty and his intellectual contributions, such as "A Defence of the Constitutions," solidified his legacy as a key...
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...George Washington and John Adams were the first two presidents of the United States. They played vital roles in creating the American Republic, and had it not been for them, our current American Republic would be very different or possibly even nonexistent. Yet, despite the hard work they put into our nation’s beginnings, they were also very different. Both men came from the same era, but could one be considered better than the other? George Washington, born on February 11, 1732, in Westmoreland Country, Virginia was our nation's first President. Washington and his ancestors were quite influential in Virginia “The patriarch of the family, John Washington, had come over from England in 1657 and established the Washingtons as respectable, if not...
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...George Washington, a strong, smart and bold leader. Washington was the leader of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, and was the first to become U.S. president. As the years went on he grew in his knowledge, and soon enough he was a magnificent president/leader. He is now known as one of the seven founding fathers of the United States. Today, I will be writing about his life, who he has influenced today, and why he is an important person to know about. Washington’s ancestory is originally all the way from England. His great-grandfather, John Washington, migrated from England to colonial Virginia. Washington’s father, Augustine Washington, was an ambitious man who acquired land and slaves, built mills, and grew tobacco. Augustine...
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...The American Revolutionary War was the start of a brand new idea of government. Many heroic men and women voiced their opinion on British rule and were willing to risk their lives to go to war over the many colonial injustices. Some of those men and women were George Washington, Joseph Warren, and Mary Ludwig. George Washington was the commander in chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783. Before leading his colonial comrades into victory over Great Britain, he encountered many grueling setbacks. The Continental Army lost many key battles and the men fighting were ready to give up. Washington was determined to take his men, battered and almost dead from exhaustion, discretely across the Delaware River on an ambush on British troops. The British Army, caught off guard, lost multiple crucial battles. With renewed strength and motivation, Washington’s men drove British troops out of New Jersey and continued to win consequential battles. The Continental Army secured the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781. With Washington’s continued heroism, he helped the Continental Army win the American...
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...The history of the United States includes a number of names and events that are little known among the general public and are directly related to the significant legacy of Hispanics in this country. The Hispanic history of the U.S. was forged by courageous figures such as Soto, Ponce de León, Coronado, Menéndez de Avilés and many others. It is time to highlight the events and honor the people who contributed to our rich culture and to explain the importance of the Spanish, and by extension, Hispanic role in the history of the United States. George Washington himself recognized the Spanish contribution when he wrote to King Carlos III of Spain after the War of Independence to thank him for the aid he had received from Spain during the fight for freedom. Washington was well aware that the Spanish Crown held a vast amount of territory throughout the Americas, from Patagonia to Alaska, and that the Spanish had been present in the New World for centuries. Washington understood that not only had Spanish explorers and missionaries shed their blood and made great sacrifices during those years, but that Spain had also contributed money and manpower to the American Revolution. The revolt against the British Crown was possible thanks, in part, to the funds sent by Spain and the participation of the Spanish in the New World. There were Spanish settlements from Mexico to Alaska, including many in what are today the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, to name just a few. Spain...
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