Goodbye Mr. President: Washington's Farewell Address

Washington's goodbye to America as her president was quite unique. This letter to the people was published all across America, and it stated the concerns of the first president for the country's wellbeing. The address did not focus around the unity and structure that Washington's cabinet had brought to America. Washington did not try to sell himself as being the perfect president nor try to claim that he had built a utopia. Instead, Washington gave Americans three problems that the country was facing in 1796. He warned Americans about the dangers that faced the young nation he had helped to build.
Washington's major concern was that America was being divided amongst it's self. Faction's had led to two parties: the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. It was Washington's biggest fear that these two parties would tear the nation apart and so he advised Americans to united under one party once again in hopes to preserve the republic.
The second concern was dependent on actions taken halfway around the globe. Americans were not only split by two parties, but by two sides of a war taking place between France and Great Britain. Federalists wished to support the British, where are the Republican party wished to honor the treaty made between France and the U.S. by supporting the French. Once again Washington cautioned his fellow Americans that by choosing sides in the war, America could be dragged into the conflict.
Thirdly, Washington proposed the foundation for "preserving political prosperity" for the young nation. The president stated that there would be no morality amongst Americans without religious oaths and loyalties. Without religious obligation no man may have a common morality with his countrymen and the country will not be united and will not withstand. "And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion." George Washington. (pictured Washington left, being advised by Hamilton, right on his Farwell Address)