What advice did President Washington give to Americans in his Farewell Address?

1796 letter past 1st US President George Washington to the American people

Washington's Goodbye Address

Author	George Washington with Alexander Hamilton (1796) and James Madison (1792)
Original title	The Address of Gen. Washington to the people on His Declining the Presidency of the United States
Publisher	Gen. George Washington
Publication date	September 1796
Text	Washington's Farewell Accost at Wikisource

Washington's Good day Address is a letter written by American President George Washington every bit a valedictory to "friends and the fellow-citizens" afterwards 20 years of public service to the United States.^[1] He wrote it about the cease of his second term of presidency before retiring to his dwelling at Mount Vernon in Virginia.

The letter was first published as The Address of Gen. Washington to the People of America on His Declining the Presidency of the United States in the American Daily Advertiser on September xix, 1796, well-nigh 10 weeks before the presidential electors cast their votes in the 1796 ballot. It is a classic statement of republicanism, alert Americans of the political dangers which they must avoid if they are to remain true to their values. It was almost immediately reprinted in newspapers around the country, and after in pamphlet form.^[2]

The first draft was originally prepared by James Madison in June 1792, as Washington contemplated retiring at the finish of his showtime term in office.^[3] All the same, he prepare it aside and ran for a 2nd term because of heated disputes between Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson which convinced Washington that the growing tensions would rip apart the country without his leadership. This included the country of foreign affairs, and divisions between the newly formed Federalist and Autonomous-Republican parties.^[4]

Every bit his second term came to a close four years after, Washington prepared a revision of the original letter with the help of Hamilton to write a new farewell address to announce his intention to pass up a third term in office. He reflects on the emerging issues of the American political mural in 1796, expresses his support for the government viii years later on the adoption of the Constitution, defends his administration'southward tape and gives valedictory advice to the American people. The letter as well attempted to reunite the country, which had partly turned against Washington following the controversial 1794 Jay Treaty.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Summary [edit]

The thought of the U.s. without George Washington every bit its president caused concern among many Americans. Thomas Jefferson disagreed with many of the president's policies and afterward led the Democratic-Republicans in opposition to many Federalist policies, simply he joined his political rival Alexander Hamilton—the leader of the Federalists—in convincing the president to delay his retirement and serve a 2d term. The two men feared that the nation would be torn apart without his leadership. Washington most probable referred to this when he told the American people that he had wanted to retire before the last ballot, but he was convinced by people who were, in his words, "entitled to my conviction" that information technology was his duty to serve a second term.^[4] All of the ideas presented in Washington's Farewell Address came from Washington; all the same, Alexander Hamilton wrote nearly of it.^[8]

Washington sought to convince the American people that his service was no longer necessary past telling them, every bit he had in his first inaugural address, that he truly believed that he was never qualified to exist president. If he achieved annihilation during his presidency, he said, it was as a upshot of their support and efforts to assist the state survive and prosper. Despite his confidence that the country would survive without his leadership, Washington used the majority of the letter to offer advice as a "departing friend" on what he believed were the greatest threats to the nation.^[4]

Unity and sectionalism [edit]

The Accost expresses Washington's agreement of republicanism by affirming popular government and alarm virtually threats to "Republican freedom".^[nine] He begins his warnings to the American people by stressing that their independence, peace at home and away, safe, prosperity, and freedom are all dependent upon unity among us. He warns them that the union of states created past the Constitution will come under the most frequent and focused attacks by foreign and domestic enemies of the country. He warns the American people to exist suspicious of anyone who seeks to carelessness the Union, to secede a portion of the country from the remainder, or to weaken the bonds that hold together the ramble union. To promote the force of the Union, he urges the people to identify their identity as Americans higher up their identities equally members of a country, metropolis, or region, and to focus their efforts and amore on the state above all other local interests. He reminds the people that they do not have more than slight differences in organized religion, manners, habits, and political principles, and that their triumph and possession of independence and liberty are the effect of working together.^[4]

Washington continues to express his support of the Union past giving some examples of how he believes that the country, its regions, and its people are already benefiting from the unity which they currently share. He and so looks to the future in his belief that the combined effort and resources of its people volition protect the country from foreign attack and allow them to avoid wars between neighboring nations that oft happen due to rivalries and competing relations with strange nations. He argues that the security provided by the Matrimony will likewise allow the United states to avoid the cosmos of an overgrown military which he sees as a great threat to liberty, especially the republican liberty which the U.s.a. has created.

Washington goes on to warn the American people to question the ulterior motives of whatever person or group who argues that the state within the borders of the United States is too large to be ruled as a commonwealth, an argument made by many during the fence on the proposed buy of the Louisiana Territory, calling on the people to requite the experiment of a large republic a chance to work before deciding that it cannot be washed. He then offers strong warnings on the dangers of sectionalism, arguing that the true motives of a sectionalist are to create distrust or rivalries between regions and people to gain power and take command of the government. Washington points to the Jay Treaty and Pinckney'due south Treaty which established the borders of the U.s.a.' western territories between Castilian Mexico and British Canada, and secured the rights of western farmers to ship goods along the Mississippi River to New Orleans. He holds upwards these treaties as proof that the eastern states along the Atlantic Declension and the federal government are looking out for the welfare of all the American people and can win fair treatment from strange countries equally a united nation.^[iv]

Constitution and political factions [edit]

Washington goes on to country his support for the new constitutional government, calling it an improvement upon the nation'due south original attempt in the Articles of Confederation. He reminds the people that it is the right of the people to alter the government to meet their needs, only it should only exist washed through constitutional amendments. He reinforces this conventionalities by arguing that violent takeovers of the government should exist avoided at all costs and that information technology is the duty of every member of the republic to follow the constitution and to submit to the laws of the government until information technology is constitutionally amended by the majority of the American people.^[1]

Washington warns the people that political factions may seek to obstruct the execution of the laws created by the authorities or to forestall the branches of government from exercising the powers provided them by the constitution. Such factions may claim to exist trying to answer pop demands or solve pressing problems, but their true intentions are to take the power from the people and place it in the hands of unjust men.^[i]

Washington calls the American people to but modify the Constitution through amendments, only he then warns them that groups seeking to overthrow the government may strive to pass ramble amendments to weaken the regime to a indicate where it is unable to defend itself from political factions, enforce its laws, and protect the people's rights and property. Equally a result, he urges them to give the government fourth dimension to realize its total potential, and simply amend the constitution after thorough time and thought accept proven that information technology is truly necessary instead of simply making changes based upon opinions and hypotheses of the moment....^[1]

Political parties [edit]

Washington continues to advance his idea of the dangers of sectionalism and expands his warning to include the dangers of political parties to the country as a whole. These warnings are given in the context of the recent rise of two opposing parties inside the authorities—the Autonomous-Republican Party led past Jefferson, and Hamilton's Federalist Party. Washington had striven to remain neutral during a conflict betwixt Britain and France brought about by the French Revolution, while the Democratic-Republicans had made efforts to marshal with French republic, and the Federalists had made efforts to marry with United kingdom.

Washington recognizes that it is natural for people to organize and operate inside groups such every bit political parties, just he also argues that every government has recognized political parties equally an enemy and has sought to repress them considering of their tendency to seek more power than other groups and to accept revenge on political opponents.^[4] He feels that disagreements between political parties weakened the authorities.

Moreover, he makes the instance that "the alternating domination" of i political party over another and coinciding efforts to exact revenge upon their opponents have led to horrible atrocities, and "is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism." From Washington's perspective and judgment, political parties eventually and "gradually incline the minds of men to seek security… in the absolute ability of an individual",^[1] leading to despotism. He acknowledges the fact that parties are sometimes beneficial in promoting freedom in monarchies, just he argues that political parties must exist restrained in a popularly elected government because of their tendency to distract the government from their duties, create unfounded jealousies amid groups and regions, raise fake alarms among the people, promote riots and insurrection, and provide foreign nations and interests admission to the authorities where they can impose their will upon the land.

Checks and balances and separation of powers [edit]

Washington continues his defense of the Constitution by stating that the system of checks and balances and separation of powers within it are important means of preventing a single person or group from seizing control of the country. He advises the American people that, if they believe that it is necessary to modify the powers granted to the government through the Constitution, it should be washed through constitutional amendments instead of through force.

This 1866 engraving depicts Washington praying at Valley Forge

Religion, morality and education [edit]

One of the well-nigh referenced parts of Washington's letter of the alphabet is his strong support of the importance of religion and morality in promoting individual and public happiness and in promoting the political prosperity of the nation.^{[ citation needed ]} He argues that religious principles promote the protection of property, reputation, and life that are the foundations of justice. He cautions confronting the conventionalities that the nation'due south morality can be maintained without organized religion:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious homo, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let the states with circumspection indulge the supposition that morality tin can exist maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar construction, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality tin can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.^[i]

Washington refers to religious principle as the foundation of public morality. He also argues that the American government needs to ensure "the general improvidence of knowledge"^[5] throughout the United States; the government has been created to enforce the opinion of the people, so the opinion of the people should be informed and knowledgeable.

Credit and government borrowing [edit]

Washington provides strong support for the balanced federal budget, arguing that the nation's credit is an of import source of strength and security. He urges the American people to preserve the national credit past fugitive war, avoiding unnecessary borrowing, and paying off any national debt accumulated in times of war every bit quickly every bit possible in times of peace and then that future generations do not take to take on the financial burdens. Despite his warnings to avert taking on debt, Washington does country his belief that sometimes information technology is necessary to spend money to prevent dangers or wars that volition cost more if not properly prepared for. At these times, he argues, information technology is necessary for the people to cooperate by paying taxes to cover these precautionary expenses. He emphasizes how important it is for the regime to exist careful in choosing the items that will be taxed, but also ball the American people that, no matter how hard the government tries, there volition never be a tax which is not inconvenient and unpleasant to those who must pay it.

Strange relations and complimentary trade [edit]

Washington dedicates a large part of his farewell address to discussing foreign relations and the dangers of permanent alliances between the U.s.a. and foreign nations, which he views as strange entanglements.^[10] He advocates a policy of good faith and justice towards all nations, again making reference to proper behavior based upon religious doctrine and morality. He urges the American people to avoid long-term friendly relations or rivalries with whatever nation, arguing that attachments with or animosity toward other nations will simply cloud the government's judgment in its foreign policy. He argues that longstanding poor relations will only lead to unnecessary wars due to a tendency to blow minor offenses out of proportion when committed by nations viewed equally enemies of the Usa. He continues this argument by claiming that alliances are likely to draw the U.s.a. into wars that accept no justification and no benefit to the country beyond simply defending the favored nation. Alliances, he warns, frequently atomic number 82 to poor relations with nations who feel that they are not existence treated as well as America's allies, and threaten to influence the American government into making decisions based upon the will of their allies instead of the volition of the American people.

Denizen Genêt was the French government minister who interfered in U.S. politics

Washington makes an extended reference to the dangers of foreign nations who will seek to influence the American people and government; nations who may be considered friendly also as nations considered enemies will equally try to influence the government to do their will. "Real patriots", he warns, who "resist the intrigues" of foreign nations may find themselves "suspected and odious" in the eyes of others, yet he urges the people to stand house against such influences all the aforementioned. He portrays those who attempt to further such foreign interests every bit condign the "tools and dupes" of those nations, stealing the applause and praise of their state away from the "real patriots" while actually working to "surrender" American interests to foreign nations.

Washington goes on to urge the American people to take advantage of their isolated position in the world, and to avoid attachments and entanglements in foreign diplomacy, specially those of Europe, which he argues have little or nothing to exercise with the interests of America. He argues that it makes no sense for the American people to get embroiled in European affairs when their isolated position and unity permit them to remain neutral and focus on their own affairs. He argues that the country should avoid permanent alliances with all foreign nations, although temporary alliances during times of extreme danger may be necessary. He states that current treaties should be honored but not extended.

Washington wraps upwards his strange policy stance by advocating free trade with all nations, arguing that trade links should be established naturally and the role of the government should be limited to ensuring stable trade, defending the rights of American merchants and any provisions necessary to ensure the conventional rules of merchandise.

Address'south intentions [edit]

Washington uses this portion of the address to explain that he does non expect his advice to make whatsoever smashing impression upon the people or to alter the course of American politics, but he does promise that the people will remember his devoted service to his country.

Defence force of the Proclamation of Neutrality [edit]

Washington then explains his reasoning backside the Proclamation of Neutrality which he made during the French Revolutionary Wars, despite the standing Treaty of Alliance with French republic. He explains that the United States had a right to remain neutral in the conflict and that the correctness of that conclusion "has been virtually admitted by all" nations since. Justice and humanity required him to remain neutral during the disharmonize, he argues, and the neutrality was also necessary to permit the new government a chance to mature and gain enough strength to command its ain affairs.

Endmost thoughts [edit]

Washington closes his letter to the American people by asking them to forgive any failures which may have occurred during his service to the country, assuring them that they were due to his ain weaknesses and by no means intentional. The sentences express his excitement nigh joining his fellow Americans as a private citizen in the gratuitous government which they have created together during his 45 years of public service.

Legacy [edit]

Washington's Farewell Accost is considered to be i of the most important documents in American history^[2] and the foundation of the Federalist Party's political doctrine.

Washington later accepted a commission from President John Adams, despite his stated want to retire from public service, as the Senior Officer of a Conditional Army formed to defend the nation against a possible invasion by French forces during the Quasi-War.^[11] Washington held true to his statements in his bye accost, despite spending months organizing the Officer Corps of the Conditional Army, and declined suggestions that he render to public part in the presidential ballot of 1800.^[xi]

Washington's statements on the importance of faith and morality in American politics and his warnings on the dangers of strange alliances influenced political debates into the twentieth century,^[two] and have received special consideration every bit communication from an American hero.

Alliances with foreign nations [edit]

Washington'south promise that the The states would end permanent alliances with foreign nations was realized in 1800 with the Convention of 1800, the Treaty of Mortefontaine which officially ended the 1778 Treaty of Alliance, in exchange for ending the Quasi-State of war and establishing most favored nation trade relations with Napoleonic French republic.^[12] In 1823, Washington's foreign policy goals were farther realized in the Monroe Doctrine, which promised non-interference in European diplomacy and then long equally the nations of Europe did not seek to colonize or interfere with the newly independent Latin American nations of Central and S America. The United States did not enter into any permanent military alliances with foreign nations until the 1949 Due north Atlantic Treaty^[13] which formed NATO.

Reading in Congress [edit]

Philadelphia residents signed a petition in January 1862 during the American Ceremonious War requesting that Congress commemorate the 130th anniversary of Washington's nascence by reading his Good day Address "in one or the other of the Houses of Congress."^[5] It was outset read in the Firm of Representatives in February 1862, and reading Washington'southward address became a tradition in both houses by 1899. The House of Representatives abandoned the practise in 1984,^[v] but the Senate continues the tradition. Washington'southward Birthday is observed by selecting a fellow member of the Senate to read the address aloud on the Senate flooring, alternating between political parties each yr since 1896.^[v] Additionally, readers make an entry into a black, leather-bound periodical maintained past the Secretarial assistant of the Senate upon finishing.^[fourteen]

In popular culture [edit]

According to political journalist John Avlon, the Cheerio Accost was "once historic as a civic Scripture, more widely reprinted than the Announcement of Independence" merely adds that it "is now almost forgotten."^[xv] He suggested that information technology had long been "eclipsed in the national retentiveness" until the Broadway musical Hamilton brought information technology back to pop awareness in the song "One Last Fourth dimension", where lines are sung by Washington and Hamilton from the end of the Accost.^[16]

See also [edit]

• Federalist Era which covers the 1790s
• Republicanism in the The states
• United States non-interventionism
• Transcript of Washington's Good day Address

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Washington, George (September 17, 1796). Washington's Farewell Accost – via Wikisource.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic". Loc.gov. October 27, 2003. Retrieved September 19, 2009.  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress.
3. ^ "Washington'southward Farewell Accost". Academy of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia: Papers of George Washington. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Elkins, Stanley; McKitrick, Eric (1995). The Historic period of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788–1800. Oxford Academy Press. pp. 489–499. ISBN978-0-xix-509381-0.
5. ^ ^{a b c d due east} "Washington'due south Farewell Address, Senate Document No. 106–21, Washington, 2000" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2009.  This commodity incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the U.South. Government Publishing Office.
6. ^ https://www.americanheritage.com/impeach-president-washington#2 . Retrieved 19 August 2021
7. ^ https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/press-attacks/ . Retrieved nineteen August 2021
8. ^ "George Washington'south Farewell Address: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)". Library of Congress. September 6, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
9. ^ Robert W. Watson (2007). White House Studies Compendium. Nova Publishers. p. 319. ISBN9781600215421.
10. ^ Bemis, Samuel Flagg (1934). "Washington's Farewell Address: A Foreign Policy of Independence". American Historical Review. 39 (2): 250–268. doi:10.2307/1838722. JSTOR 1838722.
11. ^ ^{a b} "A Cursory Biography of George Washington". Mountvernon.org. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September nineteen, 2009.
12. ^ "Perspective On The French-American Alliance". Xenophongroup.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved September xix, 2009.
13. ^ "Online Library: Due north Atlantic Treaty Organisation". Nato.int. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved September nineteen, 2009.
14. ^ United States Senate. "U.Due south. Senate: Washington's Farewell Accost".
15. ^ Avlon, John (2017). Washington's Farewell: The Founding Father's Warning to Hereafter Generations. Simon and Schuster. p. 1. ISBN9781476746463.
16. ^ "What We Can Learn From 'Washington's Adieu'". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. January 8, 2017.

Further reading [edit]

• Avlon, John. Washington's Cheerio: The Founding Father'southward Alert to Future Generations (2017) excerpt
• DeConde, Alexander (1957). "Washington'due south Farewell, the French Alliance, and the Ballot of 1796". Mississippi Valley Historical Review. 43 (4): 641–658. doi:10.2307/1902277. ISSN 0161-391X. JSTOR 1902277.
• Gilbert, Felix (1961). To the Good day Accost: Ideas of Early American Foreign Policy. New York: Harper and Row.
• Hostetler, Michael J. "Washington's farewell address: Altitude equally bane and approving". Rhetoric & Public Affairs (2002) 5#3 pp: 393–407. online
• Kaufman, Burton Ira, ed. (1969) Washington'southward Farewell Address: The View from the 20th Century (Quadrangle Books) essays past scholars
• Malanson, Jeffrey J. (2015) Addressing America: George Washington'due south Bye and the Making of National Culture, Politics, and Affairs, 1796–1852 (Kent State University Press, 2015). x, 253 pp excerpt
• Pessen, Edward (1987). "George Washington's Goodbye Address, the Common cold State of war, and the Timeless National". Journal of the Early on Republic. vii (one): 1–27. doi:ten.2307/3123426. ISSN 0275-1275. JSTOR 3123426.
• Spalding, Matthew & Garrity, Patrick J. (1996). A Sacred Spousal relationship of Citizens: George Washington'due south Farewell Address and the American Grapheme . Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN0-8476-8261-7.
• ——— (1996). "George Washington's Farewell Address". The Wilson Quarterly. 20 (4).
• Varg, Paul A. (1963). Strange Policies of the Founding Fathers. Baltimore: Penguin Books.

External links [edit]

• James Madison'south manuscript of June 21 1792
• Text of Washington's Cheerio Address

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_Farewell_Address#:~:text=He%20urges%20the%20American%20people,judgment%20in%20its%20foreign%20policy.

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