Analysis of George Washinton’s Farewell Address
In September 1796, George Washington delivered a speech known as “Washington’s
Farwell Address” that is still recited and remembered today. With the help of James Madison and
Alexander Hamilton, Washington, Madison, and Hamilton wrote an address that set forth
Washington’s desires for the future of the nation. This address was placed in newspapers around
the county and along with his desires for the future of the nation, he also gave warnings to
protect the U.S Constitution. In this paper, I will discuss the key points and warnings in his
address, discuss how the address is still relevant today, and discuss whether we as a nation
listened to what was being said.
Washington’s Warnings and Desires
The first warning George Washinton states in his address warns Americans that the
success of the new America is in the unity of the people. Washington states, “The name of the
American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of
patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” (President George
Washington's Farewell Address — 1796, 1995). This warning goes hand-in-hand with his
warning of the two-party system. Washinton says, “In contemplating the causes which may
disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been
furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern,
Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real
difference of local interests and views” (President George Washington's Farewell Address —
1796, 1995). He fears that the divide between the parties would cause the people to look at
independent ideologies and beliefs instead of looking at the nation as a whole. The third warning
Washinton issues comes from isolationism. He warns the nation of the importance of staying out
of foreign affairs to avoid creating conflicts with neighboring countries and creating a military
that affects the other countries' right to their liberties. He states, “Observe good faith and justice
towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all….”. (President George Washington's
Farewell Address — 1796, 1995)
Gorge Washinton also mentions his desires for the future generations to follow. He
encourages people to find strength in public credit, he encourages people to value education and
stick to their religious morals. George Washington also introduced the idea of a president only
serving two terms so that one person doesn’t stay in a position of power for too long.
How is the Farewell Address Still Relevant Today
In 1860 Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech during his campaign stump speech
referencing Washington’s Farewell Address stating, “Some of you delight to flaunt in our faces
the warning against sectional parties given by Washington in his Farewell Address.” (Avlon,
2018). Dwight Eisenhower references the address in his own 10-minute farewell address in 1959 where
he praises the beautiful address created by a “faithful public servant who loved his country” (Avlon,
2018) by stating “I was struck by its relevance to our day: the call for Constitutional obedience;
the warnings about sectionalism; the dangers of ‘overgrown military establishments’ but the
necessity of maintaining a ‘respectable defensive posture;’ the realistic attitude towards ‘that
love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominate in the human heart;…” (Avlon,
2018). In 1988 Ronald Regan gave a speech referencing the Washington Farewell Address’s
stance on religion. Regan says, “Because they know that liberty, just as life itself, is not earned,
but a gift from God, they seek to share that gift with the world. ‘Reason and experience,’ said
George Washington in his Farewell Address, ‘both forbid us to expect that national morality can
prevail in exclusion of religious principle. And it is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a
necessary spring of popular government.” (Avlon, 2018). The last most prominent reference to
Washington’s Farewell Address by a president was in 2017 when Barack Obama gave a speech
talking about the threat to democracy. He stated, “In his own farewell address, George
Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, prosperity, and liberty,
but ‘from different causes and from different quarters much pains will be taken…to weaken in
your minds the conviction of this truth’; that we should preserve it with ‘jealous anxiety’; that we
should reject ‘the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the
rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties’ that make us one.” (Avlon, 2018).
The nation has also adopted the tradition that on the 22nd of February (which has been
recognized as Washington’s Birthday) the Senate will select one of its members to read the
Washington Farewell Address alternating between members of each political party. When the
selected member finishes reading the address, he or she then writes their name in a black leather
book.
Did the Nation Listen to Washington’s Warnings
To some degree, the United States did listen to what George Washington warned us about and
wanted for future generations. In 1951 the 22nd Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. This
amendment outlined term limits for presidents and what they can do in the event they do not finish the
terms. This amendment came after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president for four terms.
However, as time has passed the united sates missed other key warnings. The nation is still very divided
by the two-party system. More often than not people care more about the specific ideologies of red and
blue rather than the well-being of the nation as a whole.
References
Avlon, J. (2018, February 16). How Washington’s Farewell Address Inspired Future presidents.
History.com. https://www.history.com/news/washington-farewell-address
Independence Hall Association. (1995, July 4). President George Washington’s Farewell
Address — 1796. Ushistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/documents/farewelladdress.htm
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