LAD #7 Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington begins this famous speech by declaring that he will not be running for President in the coming election. He assures his listeners that this decision does not come from personal disinterest in the country's pursuits. Rather, he feels that the country will benefit from a new leader with a fresh perspective. His decision sets a precedent for the presidents that follow him- each will also serve two terms.  Washington thanks the American people for giving him the opportunity to lead the country and says that he worked hard while he was in office to establish and administer a new government.

His speech is also largely a call for unification. He projects a spirit of American nationalism, derived from the patriotism of the Revolution, as he urges the colonies to act as a unified body. He emphasizes that the states depend on each other, despite their obvious differences. The North may be a hub for commercial trade and industry, but the South provides necessary raw materials and capital as well. The West pushes American ideals into the frontier, but depends on the East to sustain itself. For these reasons, Washington argues that the differences should unite Americans into one interdependent system rather than divide them by geographical variations. Washington also states that unity of the states will protect them from foreign infuences and prevent unnecessary domestic conflicts.

In calling for unity, Washington aslo praises the Constituion as the document that will guide the American people into a new age. He urges Americans to remain loyal to it and to build their political ideologies from it. According to Washington, the Constitution will be a vital tool in combatting factions.

The Address also contains Washington's final warnings to the States. These include warnings against: the accumulation of debt, foreign influence in North America, political parties, and alliances. Temporary alliances could be formed in extreme circumstances, but extending them was risky and unnecessary. Washington recommends that the United States retain friendly relations with all nations while looking out for its own interests.

Washington concludes the speech by admiring how far the nation has come, content with the state of a free government that is capable of carrying on without him.