George Washington's Farewell Address
Essay
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were the first and the third presidents of the United States, respectively and both were established presidents in their own ways. In George Washington’s Farewell Address he advised Americans to not get entangled within foreign countries’ problems and conflicts and to not have everlasting alliances and treaties. Washington also did not like the idea of having diverse political parties, and he also stressed the magnitude of religion and morality. Thomas Jefferson, in his first Inaugural Address states that a superior government will be able to permit its citizens to be well mannered, but at the same time let them organize themselves in what they desire to do. Jefferson also says that all principles will never change. Although they were both highly respected and regarded to as some of the greatest presidents in American history they didn’t always have the same opinions on what would be best for the growing nation.
In his Farewell Address, George Washington mentions that Americans should mind American business and not be concerned with foreign conflicts because the United States had just won a very expensive war for their independence and already owed money to their new ally the French. This was a warning to all Americans because during that time America was still young, and it had many of its own problems to solve. Jefferson was also not in favor of getting involved with foreign entanglements. As Napoleon advanced into Europe, Jefferson decided to remain neutral in the conflict by banning all European trade from American Ports because of the British forces firing upon the Chesapeake. As harassment from Barbary pirates began to become an issue Washington was persuaded to build up an American Navy in order to protect those in harm and to retrieve the captured sailors. Thomas Jefferson’s approach to the pirates was a little different from Washington’s in that he chooses to implement a blockade of Tripoli and other Barbary
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were the first and the third presidents of the United States, respectively and both were established presidents in their own ways. In George Washington’s Farewell Address he advised Americans to not get entangled within foreign countries’ problems and conflicts and to not have everlasting alliances and treaties. Washington also did not like the idea of having diverse political parties, and he also stressed the magnitude of religion and morality. Thomas Jefferson, in his first Inaugural Address states that a superior government will be able to permit its citizens to be well mannered, but at the same time let them organize themselves in what they desire to do. Jefferson also says that all principles will never change. Although they were both highly respected and regarded to as some of the greatest presidents in American history they didn’t always have the same opinions on what would be best for the growing nation.
In his Farewell Address, George Washington mentions that Americans should mind American business and not be concerned with foreign conflicts because the United States had just won a very expensive war for their independence and already owed money to their new ally the French. This was a warning to all Americans because during that time America was still young, and it had many of its own problems to solve. Jefferson was also not in favor of getting involved with foreign entanglements. As Napoleon advanced into Europe, Jefferson decided to remain neutral in the conflict by banning all European trade from American Ports because of the British forces firing upon the Chesapeake. As harassment from Barbary pirates began to become an issue Washington was persuaded to build up an American Navy in order to protect those in harm and to retrieve the captured sailors. Thomas Jefferson’s approach to the pirates was a little different from Washington’s in that he chooses to implement a blockade of Tripoli and other Barbary