LAD #7: Washington's Farewell Address

Summary of the Farewell Address:

     George Washington, after serving two terms as the President of the United States, decided to retire even though he would have continued to be the excellent leader he was. He decided to set the precedent of limiting the number of terms served as to not have the position of Presidency turn into that of Kingship. Also in the address, he did just as it says, addressed certain issues that should be corrected, avoided, or kept the same in the future. These included precedents that would be kept for generations and many other influential aspects of American History.
      Washington starts out by warning the American citizens to keep the states unified, or independence will be lost. With this, he says that individuals need to be loyal to both the state AND the country, not just their town or section, as this would undermine the independence and unity of the country.
       He also defends the newly made Constitution calling it better than the Articles of Confederation, and if followed, the country will be in good hands. And if at anytime the government is not solely providing for the people's needs and helping them out in the long run, they have the right to add amendments to the Constitution. he also declares that political factions and political parties are dangerous and should be avoided. Washington, being a strong believer in the Constitution further backs it up by saying that the systems of checks and balances and separation of power are beneficial.
       This very strong address is filled with arguments about the importance of religion and money management. This would ensure prosperity in the politics of the country. Also important, is that the United States should remain neutral in European conflicts to ensure safety of liberty,  but nevertheless, good relations should be kept with these countries. Washington also agreed with free trade with other nations.
       He closes the document with saying that he apologizes for any mistakes and takes responsibility for his actions. He goes on to say he is content with being just a private American citizen living in the great country he and many others help to create.