The Farewell Address by Sophia Gamboa
Washington was a Founding father and the leading general during the American Revolution for the Americans. After the British colonies gained their freedom, they appointed Washington as the first official president of the United States. As president, he helped the country truly understand that America is a nation not just a collection of states. Washington also establishes a Cabinet including a Vice President, a Secretary of War, a State, a Treasury, an Attorney General, and a Postmaster General. Washington made many important decisions for our country, and he exemplified a great leader for our nation during his time as president his careful consideration was constantly shown even up to his final days as president when he stepped down from the presidency. Washington’s Farewell Address is filled with concern for his citizens and country.
Washington’s Farewell address expresses how much he was interested in his citizen’s well-being. He shares in his first sentences the importance of their words and how they should have a say in our government. Washington also specifically shares his concern when he states, “to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests.” George Washington worries that everyone will have only self-interest and will not care about the country. Washington expresses the theme of “shift
happens” when he states, “Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts.” Equality is a major theme in his speech, especially when he makes sure that his citizens support the government but take the opportunity to challenge it. Finally, he ends his speech with an allusion to Federalist 10 when he remarks, “A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, left, instead of warming, it should consume.” This proves the overall message of George Washington’s farewell address was to be viewed as a warning against factions taking control of the government and as a guide for future political leaders.
George Washington’s Farewell Address is filled with caring concern for his citizens and country because he expresses how we have rights, and we can use our rights to make our new, significant country even better. Washington wants to remind us how the colonies are all independent, but together in unity.
“Selections from Washington’s Farewell Address” by Bridget Durham
George Washington’s farewell address is a speech to the American people by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton; that sets the precedent for future presidents. He starts by saying “friends and citizens” to show that he is on the same level as the people that he is representing, not above them. Washington then explains that he is not running for president again despite the public wanting him to serve another term.
Humans are pack animals who clump together; they tend to form into groups with likeminded individuals in their surrounding area. Grouping in these extremes leads to division among the masses even when united by a common cause. Each individual group has their own ideologies under the umbrella of main ideas. When a groups ideas become overtaken by the interest of one person it starts to divert from the shared common cause. The more the ideas of one group differ from the masses, the more common infighting and division becomes. This division is Washington’s main concern. Washington begins to state his concerns when he says, “now let me take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of the party generally.” On top of this tension, Washington needed to figure out how to rule these groups of rebels and set up a successful government for generations. Americans main concern, despite their differences, is independence which is full of contradictions and Washington needs to figure out where to draw the line.
Another concern of Washington was one state having more power than the other leading to geographic discrimination. Another warning he gives is, “districts to misrepresent the opinions and aims of another district. You cannot shield yourself too much against the jealousies and heartburning’s which spring from these misrepresentations.” Washington tells the people that they “cannot shield yourself too much against the jealousies and heartburning’s which spring from these misrepresentations,” to say that people cannot be blind sighted about what is happening. He states this since states with smaller populations had been making it difficult for smaller states to trade and have a role in the government. Washington is concerned with tyranny and one state taking over another and causing in-fighting.
Washington then warns against the dangers of cabinets fracturing. Washington indirectly refers to the Federalist ten, written by Madison, which warns against the dangers of a government that is fractured into factions. Madison can predict what minority rule will do to the wellbeing of the government and Washington is driving that point into the American people’s minds. “By which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be able to usurp themselves for the reins of government.” Washington is stating that if a corrupt man takes control of the government, it will be extremely similar to how the British government is run.
Another issue Washington was facing was, “the disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruin of public library.” Washington is stating that power can corrupt and will if left unchecked; if a corrupt individual is in charge of the government, it will lead to its ultimate demise.
In Washington’s final letter to the people he leaves them with a vague warning, “a fire not to be quenched, it demands uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming, it should consume.” “A fire not to be quenched,” is a strong central government; Washington uses the language of a fire to represent its power and ability to destroy if not contained. “Lest instead of warming, it should consume,” is an allusion to fires ability to heat and provide necessary warmth but also its incredibly destructive property. In conclusion, Washingtons main concern was the overrule of one person or group in the government because historically, those governments have failed. Washington’s leaves his fellow citizens with a final goodbye, “I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself without alloy the sweet enjoyment of partaking in the midst of my fellow citizens the benign influence of a good law under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart and the happy rewards as I trust of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.” He ends his letter optimistically to encourage the American people to serve each other and to create a fair and equal government.
“Selections from George Washington’s ‘Farewell Address’” (1796) by Maggie Foster
The “Selections from George Washington’s ‘Farewell Address’” is an important piece of writing because it dictates the importance of the impact factions can have on a new country trying to form a cohesive government. The importance of a balance of power has been evident since the writing of the constitution. The overall tone of this piece is about how the US needs to come together and be in union.
The first and second paragraphs of this piece focuses on the part that everyone is in on it together. For instance, he starts off his address with “Friends and Citizens” establishing that everyone is joined and he recognizes that (Washington 1). He continues on and emphasizes the fact that everyone should have a say in the matter. Whether it is a law that needs to be voted on or simply how they want to live their lives. He goes into detail about how if the US does not band together for the common good that this nation will fall apart. He even alludes to the civil war years and years prior when he says that “you cannot shield ourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations’ ‘(Washington 1). This part shows his worry that certain parts of the US can and will fall if not completely unified. All together, this part of his address focuses on the importance of unity within the states and the government.
In the third and fourth paragraphs he talks about self importance and challenging the government. These two topics go hand in hand because when someone’s ego becomes inflated they might try and fix what they think is wrong with the government and create an uprising. He goes into the idea that when people think that something of theirs has been taken they want to try and regain it. For example, if one of their rights was taken away they would fight for it. Where self interest plays a part is how regaining that right will play itself out. Instead of legally fighting for it they might create riots or an uproar and end up hurting people. Finally, he strongly argues that there is an importance to challenging the government, but it needs to be done in the right way or else chaos will ensue.
In the final parts of his address, Washington goes back into the unity that the country should have the trust in the government. He ends it all with a metaphor similar to the metaphor made in the “Federalist 10” by James Madison, “a fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume” (Washington 3). This metaphor is meant to show that power has the strength to destroy something if it is left unchecked. Finally, this piece is meant to show Washington’s worry for the unity of the country with this government being fairly new.
