Warnings In George Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington (1732-1799), a surveyor, Commander of the Continental Army who fought in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), President of the Philadelphia Convention (1787) and two term Commander-in-Chief of the newly formed government and country (1789-1799). George Washington was not interested in serving a second term as President. He wanted to retire from political life to a more quiet life at Mount Vernon. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, two men at odds with each other and members of his cabinet, persuaded Washington to serve a second term claiming the North and South would hold on if he served as President. He ruled the country without an affiliation to any party. Years prior to his second term, Washington wrote his farewell address asking James Madison to write a

(Bomboy 2015). On December 14, 1799 George Washington died at the age of 67 leaving behind a legacy of strength, integrity and national purpose. This essay will discuss the warnings in Washington’s farewell address and contemporary government’s disregard to those warnings.
Party Factions Washington addressed the issue of protecting the Union as it is fundamental to the nationality of America. He warned against sectionalism as he feared it would destroy common interest and national character. He believed that sectionalism would develop between the colonies the presence of emerging interests among each colony rather than the country as a whole. He felt that sectionalism would divide the country because what is sacred is the relationship between the Union and the Constitution. “The name of American, which belong to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” (Heritage Foundation 2016). He warned the American people of party factions. Washington felt that the then Federalists and Republican or Democrat-Republican Parties were more harmful to the people and the country.