LAD #6 Washington's Farewell Address

Washington’s 1776 Farewell address was written to inform the American people that he was not going to run for another term in office. In the opening of the address he makes it clear to everyone that he had to make a decision whether to continue as president or not. He then wrote that he had after a long time of thinking decided to resign. He wanted no hard feeling from the American people and wanted everyone to know that he loves his country very much and he did not want people to be mad at him for resigning. Washington continues by stressing the importance of maintaining the union. He realizes that the views of people in the North, South, East, and West all have a difference of opinion. However it is vital to the nation to stay together and to accomplish things for a common purpose. The President wrote that each part of the country benefits from each other, for example the South benefits from the North’s manufacturing and the North benefits from the South’s agriculture. In addition Washington states how important it is to follow the rules of the country. He said that it is the people right to establish a constitution and it is also their responsibility to follow all of the rules they set in place. Also a reason for his resignation was that he was becoming sick of the arguments in the political world. He felt that factions were dangerous and that they were not needed. He believed that the country should be a whole and should not divide amongst themselves. Towards the end of the address he repeats his earlier proclamation by telling how important it is to remain neutral in foreign affairs. He then closes his Farewell Address when he speaks his love for the county and states that it is always a part in his heart.