Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796 Guided Reading Exercise

APUSH - 2003-04 D. MONNIER

Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 Guided Reading Exercise

Washington's Farewell Address is regarded as a significant document in U.S. history for a number of reasons. First, it was a demonstration of Washington's dedication to the American experiment, in that he made sure he retired from office after only two terms when he could have easily remained President until the end of his life (he feared that if he died in office, the precedent might lead to monarchy in the country). Second, he strongly urged Americans to hold to the Constitution and the principles it embodied. Third, he warned the nation against internal divisions, either sectional or factional. Finally, he cautioned against becoming entangled in European affairs and urged a neutral, somewhat isolationist approach in U.S. foreign policy. Washington never actually delivered his address orally. It was published in newspapers around the nation, and was addressed to the American people generally. It first appeared in David C. Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), on 19 September 1796. DIRECTIONS: You are to complete this exercise as you read Washington's Address. The purpose of this exercise is to guide you through your reading of the document, and to help clarify some of the main ideas in the piece.

1) Washington opened his address by explaining his reasons for not seeking a third term as President of the United States. What were two of his reasons for retiring from office? [Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6]

2) What might have been some of the fears of American citizens concerning the national government, once they learned that Washington was stepping down?

3) Washington next emphasized the commonalities that the states and people of the nation shared. List some of these commonalities. [Paragraphs 9 and 10]

4) Washington discussed the differences that divided the nation, particularly by geographical region. Fill in the Venn Diagrams below, showing what united the regions in common interest and what separated them in opposing interests, from Washington's viewpoint. [Paragraphs 12, 13, and 15]

NORTH

WEST

EAST

SOUTH

5) Washington praised the U.S. Constitution at length. List three of the virtues of the U.S. Constitution, according to George Washington in 1796. [Paragraphs 16 and 26]

6) Factions figured prominently in Washington's worries about the fate of the nation. In the space below, draw a simple political cartoon that demonstrates Washington's view of what would happen to the country if factions absorbed the business of the federal government. [Paragraphs 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]

7) Washington made a clear endorsement of Hamilton's monetary policies when he discussed the public credit. According to his address, why did he think good public credit in the U.S. was an excellent idea? [Paragraph 30]

8) In the last part of the address, Washington outlined his views on U.S. foreign policy, views that have influenced the presidency and the U.S. State Department in the 200+ years since this address was published. What were two features of this policy? [Paragraphs 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41]

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