|
Topics:
|
|
|---|---|
Words: |
868 |
Pages:
|
2
This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples.
|
Cite this essay
Download
In 1796, as his 2nd term in workplace drew to a close, President George Washington selected no longer to are looking for re-election. Mindful of the precedent his behavior set for future presidents, Washington feared that if he had been to die even as in office, Americans could view the presidency as a lifetime appointment. Instead, he determined to step down from electricity, imparting the usual of a -term restrict that might sooner or later be enshrined within the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution.
Washington informed the American humans of his retirement in a public letter that might turn out to be known as his “Farewell Address.” James Madison had written a draft in 1792 whilst Washington had contemplated retiring after his first time period. Retaining only the first few paragraphs of Madison’s model, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton carried out an extensive rewrite, with Washington presenting the final edits.
Washington started out his address through explaining his choice not to are looking for a 3rd time period as president. Washington found out that he had hoped to retire previous to the previous election, but refrained because of the “important posture of our affairs with foreign international locations,” referring to the escalation of tensions with Great Britain over its war with France. But with that crisis handed, Washington assured the united states that his management became no longer wished. The republic would be safe within the arms of a new president. Having completed his pleasant to assuage worry, Washington then supplied his final counsel to the human beings as their president. He harassed the significance of the Union that bonded all Americans collectively and supplied for his or her freedom and prosperity. He reminded them that the “independence and liberty” the nation presently enjoyed changed into the result of the “common dangers, sufferings, and successes” they’d skilled collectively in the American Revolution and early years of the republic. To guard their difficult-won system of republican government in a federal union, the united states of america needed to stay united.
He suggested towards three interrelated dangers that threatened to wreck the Union: regionalism, partisanship, and overseas entanglements. He warned his countrymen now not to let regional loyalties overwhelm countrywide attachments: “The call of American…ought to constantly exalt the simply delight of patriotism extra than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” At this time, many Americans broadly speaking diagnosed with their country or place, however Washington reminded the citizenry not to allow such attachments to divide them, lest “designing men” persuade them that differing nearby interests made the Union unworkable or needless.
In precise, Washington feared that geographic identities could function the foundation for the improvement of political parties. Indeed, this method had already begun with the emergence of the New England Federalists and Southern Democratic-Republicans. While we currently view partisanship as inseparable from the American political system, in the early republic, maximum condemned parties as divisive, disruptive, and the tools of demagogues looking for electricity.
“Factionalism,” as contemporaries referred to as it, endorsed the voters to vote based on celebration loyalty in preference to the not unusual properly. Washington feared that partisanship might result in a “spirit of revenge” in which birthday party men would no longer govern for the good of the human beings, however handiest to gain and preserve their grip on energy. As a result, he warned Americans to shield towards would-be despots who would use parties as “mighty engines…to subvert the strength of the human beings and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.”
The greatest chance to the Union, although, stemmed from the mixture of factionalism and outside invasion. Washington explained that partisanship “open[ed] the door to overseas affect and corruption” as it weakened voters’ abilities to make reasoned and disinterested selections. Rather than deciding on the fine guys for workplace, the human beings might base decisions on “sick-founded jealousies and fake alarms,” and so choose the ones in league with overseas conspirators. To avoid outdoor interference, Washington encouraged a overseas policy primarily based on neutrality and pleasant industrial family members with all.
Washington concluded his deal with with some brief musings on his legacy. Given his 40-5 years of provider, he was hoping that his countrymen might view his past mistakes “with indulgence” and that history could relegate them “to oblivion.” He closed with the aid of expressing his anticipation of a retirement wherein he loved the end result of the state’s “mutual cares, labors, and dangers” over the last several years. That is, “the benign have an effect on of top laws below a unfastened authorities.”
Washington’s Farewell Address spoke to present day concerns that the Union changed into vulnerable and prone to assaults from internal and outside enemies. But even after the uncertainty of the early countrywide duration had passed, his message of unity remained powerful. In the early 19th century, Federalists study the farewell deal with aloud as a part of their yearly commemoration of Washington’s birthday. It continues to be recited annually inside the United States Senate, a lifestyle dating back to the Civil War. The Farewell Address endures as a critical founding document for issues of Union, partisanship, and isolationism.
Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7.
Fair Use Policy
EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com.
Stuck on your essay?
