George Washington's Farewell Address Essay

In September 1796, President George Washington published his Farewell Address to the people of the United States. Washington expressed his thoughts and advice on what he perceived to be the important considerations for the new American nation. He did not expect that his advice should dictate future American policies, but he hoped that Americans would be wary of the harmful impact of sectional and economic disunity, political parties, foreign influence, and the claims domestic power-seekers. Washington believed that the Constitution provided the most effective framework for the future operation of politics in America and the conduct of international relations. A large portion of President Washington’s address warned against foreign involvement.
He wanted a prosperous people who were secure from foreign threat. In light of this, Washington would have recognized the adjustments that were necessary in his advice. He would have encouraged the massive immigration of the 1800s (he has surveyed land that was in his day on the western frontier); and he would have understood that the industrialization and urbanization of the 1800s produced the great wealth of America. Washington would have been saddened to witness that civil war was necessary to achieve national unity and end slavery (he had freed his slaves in his will and had provided assistance for them to develop useable
Especially in the last few years, political party divisions in Congress and with the Presidency have become harsher. Yet, though he warned against political parties, Washington recognized the natural tendency for people to organize around like interests. Without political parties it would be much harder for elected officials to get their legislation passed. They would have to focus on individual alliances, instead of first garnering support from their party. We would have representatives with wider and more diverse viewpoints rather than ones who toe the party line. And we would have even more division and