George Washington Farewell Address and Legacy

Bell Ringer  George Washington “was an extraordinary man who made it possible for ordinary men to rule.” Historian Gordon Wood  In two good paragraphs explain what Gordon Wood meant by the above statement concerning Washington

George Washington

His Farewell Address  It appeared in many American newspapers on September 19,  It was never orally presented but written in form of a speech  Hamilton helped in writing the speech

Senate Tradition: Reading the Farewell Address  The Senate tradition began on February 22, 1862, as a morale-boosting gesture during the darkest days of the Civil War.  Every year since 1896, the Senate has observed Washington's Birthday by selecting one of its members, alternating parties, to read the 7,641-word statement in legislative session.

Washington's Farewell Address Notebook  Since 1900, the reading of the address has been followed by the Senator inscribing his or her name along with brief remarks in a leather-bound book maintained by the Secretary of the Senate.

1. exalts the benefits of the federal government.  "The unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."

2. Warns against the party system.  "It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

3. Stresses the importance of religion and morality.  "Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?" And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

4. On stable public credit.  "...cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible...avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt....it is essential that you...bear in mind, that towards the payments of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant..."

5. Warns against permanent foreign alliances.  "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..."  Neutrality: offer friendship and commerce to all nations  His concern was that the new nation not be drawn into Continental squabbles

6. On an over-powerful military establishment.  "...avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty."

His Legacy  Established precedents: limit of 2 terms of office, regular meetings with his cabinet, President would live where he worked, established the executives’ nearly sole authority to conduct foreign affairs.  Fostered a sense of nationhood and national unity

More Legacy  Only President to be elected unanimously.  He gave the new nation time it needed by his 2 terms in office.  He truly was the “Father of His Country.”  In his will he made provision for and freed his slaves, truly a rebuke to his times.  During the Civil War, North and South considered Mt. Vernon neutral space.

Exit Task  Examine the 6 warnings given by Washington in his Farewell Address. Describe how the advice is prophetic especially looking at the economic, social and political status of our nation today. Another way of expressing the task is: Critique the nation in relation to Washington’s sage counsel.  Be explicit and support your answer with at least 3 pieces of evidence.