Washington’s Advice to America
George Washington serves as a general in the Revolutionary War, and later became the president of the United States. Throughout his presidency, he set many precedents for future government officials to carry on. He also observed problems the new nation had, making an effort to fix as many of them as he could. The problems that were still present at the end of his second term were mentioned in his Farewell Address. George Washington encouraged the country to stay united, follow the Constitution, and stay neutral.
Washington had a very strong belief that political parties were only good for dividing nations, and that unity was the key to a strong and successful country. He warned that although most people supported unity in the country, some may try to destroy America’s togetherness. Washington proclaims, “...much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth….” The truth mentioned in the quote is that unity is the best thing for our country.
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The Whiskey Rebellion, an event where citizens violently protested a tax on whiskey, was an avoidable confusion that could have been solved peacefully. Washington saw this and commented that “If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates.” When people have problems with the government, they should look to the Constitution to see a way that it can be fixed. Washington wanted to remind citizens that they have the power to shape the ways of the nation, but that they must first find a legal way to make proposals about the government. Following the Constitution was, and is, crucial to the nation’s