Washington Farewell Address and Political Parties
George Washington was the first president of the United States. After the first term as a president, Washington wanted to take an early retirement, however;, he was advised to take office for the second time. During this period, George Washington drafted a Farewell Address with his long-time friend, Alexander Hamilton. The Farewell Address was addressed to the American friends and American citizens in general. The Washington Farewell Address has remained an essential document in US history because of its contents. This paper aims to analyze Washington’s Farewell address’s critical points and how they helped build the US’s future.
George Washington was not affiliated to any party during his presidency. In the Farewell Address, President Washington cautioned about the dangers of being affiliated to political parties more than the country. Washington stated that political parties were potential engines for ambitious, cunning, and corrupt men to use power to cause division. Through this statement, Washington concluded the observations of the rise of two political parties in the country, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The two parties were rivals to each other, and thus they could easily lead to a division of the states that formed the US. Washington address regarding political parties has been evidenced in later years when regions are divided in terms of political parties.
The rivalry between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that Washington had observed is still evidenced in today’s politics. Washington saw political parties as to the worst enemies on the government due to opposition. During the American Civil War, party affiliations played a significant role in dividing the country into the Northern States and the Southern States. In this case, Northern states supported the Republican Party while the Southern states supported the Democratic Party. Furthermore, President Lincoln faced a lot of opposition from the southern states. During presidential campaigns, it is common to find regions subdivided in terms of political parties, and there is a rivalry between politicians affiliated with different political parties. Washington argued that politicians should never show loyalty to a party over the nation. Through this, he meant that politicians should highly consider the country’s wellbeing more than that of political parties by supporting ideologies that would lead to its progress.
Washington on Union of the US
Washington was concerned with the wellbeing of the Union after his retirement. He stressed that the Union was crucial for the independence, safety, liberty, prosperity, and peace at home and abroad. Washington declared that the freedom and liberty that was possessed at the time resulted from joint efforts by all the states that formed the Union. Washington emphasizes that Americans should not prioritize their sections or regions’ interests over the country’s interests. This Washington ideology is proved in late 1860 and 1861 when southern states valued regional interests over national ones leading to seven of them seceding from the Union. During this period, there was increased tension between Northern and Southern states due to differing opinions on slavery. Washington claims that the Union contributed to peace both within the country and outside the country is real. During the Civil War, more than half a million soldiers lost their lives, and many civilians, because there was no peace and the war climate, had taken over. Peace was only restored when the states that had seceded from the Union were taken back.
The danger of Foreign Entanglements
Washington was keen on the impacts of other nations on the success of the US as a Union. He warned politicians to keep away from foreign countries’ affairs because they would negatively affect the country. However, Washington advocated for the United States to be on good terms with all nations, primarily when they engaged in commercial relationships. Incredibly, Washington warned oncoming politicians against engaging in relationships with European affairs because Europe itself was complicated. Washington’s statement on foreign affairs could only be realized during both the First and Second World Wars, which were initiated in Europe but led to the US losing many soldiers and experiencing economic challenges. However, US involvement in foreign affairs has led to the US’s recognition as a superpower globally.
In conclusion, Washington Farewell Address has remained relevant in US history. The significant issues raised during the address were almost experienced later and had impacts indicated in the Farewell Address. Washington emphasized the well-being of the Union, the threat of political parties on the Union’s success, and the danger of foreign entanglements, especially with European countries. Lastly, suppose the US emphasizes Washington’s Farewell Address recommendations, there will be minimal issues related to political division and rivalry between the Republican and Democratic Party in the US.