Document analysis 4 formatting

Document analysis 4

The document is an excerpt from the farewell speech delivered by ex-president of United States George Washington in 1796. This is a primary source which is retrieved from the historical speech made by George Washington at the eve of his decision of taking the election for his third presidential term. The speech has been published in various newspapers and journals.

The Heritage Foundation is the author of this article which has encapsulated the farewell speech of the ex-US president. The Heritage Foundation is a researched based institute working for the preservation of the culture and heritage in the society.

George Washington, in this speech and the related article published thereof, has addressed the then American nation which was a young republic at that time and the upcoming political leadership after him. He has emphasized the dangers in having long term relationships and strategic ties with the foreign nations on permanent basis or indulges the America in war being against some foreign nations being allies of some other foreign nations.

Significance of the national unity for American nation

The issue of prime importance that has been emphasized by George Washington in his farewell speech is the importance of the unity for the young American nation at national level. It is very important for the nation to observe harmony and unison in the interest of the national life of the Americans instead of pursuing the domestic interests or sectarian objectives at the cost of common good for all. He stressed that being American should be the proud of the American instead of attaching themselves to lesser titles reflecting local discriminations.

Factions in the society and their dangers

George Washington warned the American nation that they should avoid the political or social factions and sects in the country to protect the true social fabric of the nation. People should keep distance from such leaders or influential people that try to induce discrimination in the society to divide the public and then rule over them. He warned the American people that such factious groups only seek for their own good & authority and destroy the common & collective interests of the public.

Role of American nation in world

According to George Washington, the American nation should stand by the moral and ethical values and justice to show the world that the American nation is worthy of being considered as the leader of the nations and has all the necessary good attributes and qualities that are needed for a nation to be placed at such place. The American nation should try to maintain their relationships with other foreign nations on commercial and trade ship basis for the benefit of all. And the nation should try to distance itself from the political relations or controversies with other nations especially the nation should not indulge in the politics between several different countries pursuing their own benefits.

This article was written to communicate the vision of the founder leaders of the American nation to the young American generation of today.

Following are some quotations from the excerpt that emphasize that how this article reflects the wisdom of George Washington’s speech for today’s Americans and thinkers.

· “The name of 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.”

· “The baneful effects of the Spirit of Party”

· “Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations.”

Further, we can ascertain that the American nation was quite a young generation at that time which was in the process of shaping its internal matters as well as foreign policies towards the world. Furthermore, it tells us the urge in the American nation to keep distance from the wars staged by the international players of foreign nations and just focus on commercial relationships with other nations.

However the document should have addressed that how the American nation could avoid its participation in the outer world’s matters when the American were supposed to maintain long term commercial relationships with them?

Work cited

George Washington “Washington’s Farewell Address” (1796).Reprinted in Washington’s Farewell Address to the people of the United States, Senate Publication No. 108-21 (Washington 2004)

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