Farewell Address By George Washington: A Literary Analysis

First president of the U.S and also the commander in chief during the American Revolution for the Continental Army.

In this chapter, Joseph J. Ellis tells us about how George Washington’s retirement for being the president. He thinks that it was a good thing because there was no sign of failure and everything got stronger and they were ready for what the future held for the nation. George Washington knew that, from his powerful influence, the country was going to be strong because of the two years he served as president. Joseph J. Ellis also looks at how George Washington’s bad health and his hate towards the press criticism influenced the decision. Then, in the end, the chapter concludes with Washington’s Farewell Address and the discussion of the major points in the text.

An analysis of George Washington’s Farewell Address shows that there were three points he wanted to stress. The points being his decision not to be considered for a 3rd term, his advice to the country to stand united, and his advice to the future leaders of the country concerning foreign policy.

George Washington played a large role in America’s history by being the first president of the United States of America for two terms starting in 1789 to September 19,1786, however it was not technically over until 1787. He changed the ways in which the Americans lived through events such as the ratification of the Constitution, moving the capitol, and the signing of the Jay treaty, but especially through his farewell address. Toward the end of his presidency in 1796, George Washington's farewell address managed to lead America into a path of patriotic union with one another and neutrality with other countries for trade and less violence. Washington wrote this 32 paged address to inform the citizens of his leave from presidency and to ultimately get them to think about who they want as head of Congress in America after he is gone. Although Washington wrote this address himself, his ideas were shared with Alexander Hamilton before they were actually published (ourdouments.org) making it a team effort, one of many reasons to prove the fact that the most successful events in America were able to happen because of the unity of its people. The document clearly states the end of his presidency but the beginning of a whole new chapter for America.

Many people know George Washington as the first president of the United States but most don’t know the real George Washington aside from that. George was born into a family that consisted of a mother, a father and his nine other siblings. When Washington was 11 years old his father died and was put in the care of his half brother Lawrence.

To help us maintain the efficiency of our government, George Washington gave our country words of advice in his Farewell address. His Farewell address was in 1796, on the eve of September 19. He mentioned that he would not be running in the next election and that his time as president was up. Washington, with the country’s welfare in mind, wanted the nation to obtain and maintain felicity. He had decided that he would give the future president and the people of the nation advice based on his experiences as president. His words of wisdom consists of telling us to stay united, follow the constitution, and to stay neutral.

George Washington’s Presidential Farewell Address consisted of three critical elements that were considered vital for the functional survival of the country that had just won its independence. On September 19, 1796, President Washington advised the nation to stand together as one united country, warned the people about the dangers of political parties and he established foundational reasons for the country to not become over involved in foreign affairs. These three principles set forth an understanding that was monumental for American society. Their level of importance serves as a near perfect reflection to both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution as the building blocks to a great nation. Each of these three principles, even though they were not written as laws, went on as a tradition for this nation; each being clung to with the same level of importance and integrity as the Founders sought in the aforestated documents of freedom.

George Washington, the first president of the United States, had written a very important historical speech and document towards the end of his time in office. He had written the Farewell address which focused on helping America understand the importance of preserving unity, acknowledging the rise of political parties forming, strengthening religion and morality, and he stated his position on American foreign policy. He addressed these ideas with strong tone and used incredible amount of dictions that strengthens his tone as well as representing his appeal to ethos to a strong degree. However, today’s society seemed to forget Washington’s position on foreign policy and has created a new form of the policy. But nonetheless as time grew,

One of Washington’s major points is staying out of Europe’s wars and conflicts. Washington believed that we should not follow through with the strong isolationistic beliefs up to the first war. It only occurred during the World War II that we had gotten away from it. To avoid partisanship, Washington didn’t even want the political parties to follow us at all; obviously we did indeed have two strong political parties, which neither completed its responsibilities and had the encouragement of determination to solve the serious issues that shouldn’t have been about the political parties that most had belong or involved in that don’t actually know anything or about the politics of what both parties were doing.

In George Washington 's Farewell Address, Washington warns against the dangers of political factions by stating, “it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views” (Washington). However, despite American leaders such as George Washington and James Madison warning of factionalism, the country would be divided by political parties arising out of the Northern and Southern states of the union. By the time Walt Whitman wrote “Songs of Myself” in 1855, tensions in the United States created by factionalism were at a high and were constantly elevating. In writing “Songs of Myself”, Whitman sought to help mend some of the wounds created by factionalism by seeking to bring together Americans whom factionalism had rendered alien to one another and by teaching to believe in oneself rather than the beliefs of political parties.

“Washington’s Farewell Address” is a compelling and inspiring speech that lifts the spirits of Americans while George Washington rejects taking a third term as President of the United States. This speech was never spoken to an audience, however, the speech was published in the American Daily Advertiser newspaper. This speech was created by George Washington, but James Madison and Alexander Hamilton helped Washington edit the document. It took George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton 5 years to publish the speech. The speech was finally published in 1796.

Leadership many times can be misinterpreted by many individuals. Leadership is an ability that not everyone is meant to have nor develop. In fact, many can be called, “leaders” but that does not imply that their leadership role plays a positive impact on others. At times, some people seek leadership in a form to only obtain power and abuse it for their own self-interest. While there are others that create great influences to following generations. For instance, there are those like Plato and Thomas Jefferson who have established philosophical thoughts that for past centuries, have revolutionized many people’s ideals. Through their principles many people have identified, what they consider can exemplify, true characteristics that make someone have successful leadership qualities. In their own way, they have influenced others, with the purpose to communicate a foundation of important ideals which have helped guide many. Whether it is one or a group of individuals. Many people should consider in practicing and adapting to those philosophical principles, manifested in Plato’s, “The Allegory of the Cave” and Thomas Jefferson's, “The Declaration of Independence” essay who illustrate certain ideals and aspects of leadership in their own unique way.

George Washington wrote a farewell speech in 1796, marking the retirement of his leadership of the United States of America. He published his goodbye, titled his “Farewell Address,” in many papers. The long, revised copy of his speech, originally intended to be read at the end of his first term, tells of how he wanted to retire four years previous, but how he had been begged to stay on. He states that he never considered himself to be worthy of leading the

Odysseus was a brave and strong man that got through unimaginable dangers, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have any failure that led to his success. Odysseus was a leader to all of his men, but his orders are not always followed. In the story, “The Odyssey” written by Homer, Odysseus was sent away,and he took many men with him along in his journey. They traveled long distances for a long time, soon they came across Helios's

An Analysis of George Washington's Farewell Address Carmen Williams Liberty University: GOVT 200-B102 Professor Edward Soto George Washington's Farewell Address is one of the most eloquent pieces of literature delivered. It's content and intent constitutes that of a man who was not only prophetic, but a sage. His Farewell Address was printed in the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796. The Address was not merely a statement of resignation, but an open letter of advisement exemplifying unity, in addition to warning the American people about their long-term freedom and pursuit of happiness. There are twenty key points in Washington's Farewell Address; however the focus will be on five of these: (1) The Preservation of the Union. (2) The Danger of Factions. (3) Religion and Morality. (4) Preservation of Public Credit. (5) America's Role in the World. The Preservation of the Union. Washington's persistent theme throughout the Farewell Address is the preservation of the Union as the crux of American Nationhood. In paragraph 9 Washington notes the Union, "is the main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." Washington warns of those, internally and externally, who would covertly work to destroy the foundation on which America was built. In paragraph 10, Washington accentuates the far greater significance