Monday, April 6, 2009

Washington’s farewell address

Washington’s farewell address


· Did not want to run for 3rd term because he was tired of public life and devoutly wished for retirement


· He also believed if he stepped down it would remind America he was our president not our king


· The people were our true leaders


· Alexander Hamilton and James Madison helped him with his farewell address


· In his speech he spoke of dangers to the republic which consisted of foreign ties, political divisions at home, and public debt.


· His farewell address was published in the newspaper in early September of 1796


· Intimated- told

· Comprehensive- complete

· Baneful- destructive

· Modification – change

· Diffusion- spreading

· Posterity- future generations

· Cultivate-seek

· Calculate- plan

· Devoutly- strongly


· Washington said, in his speech, to only change the constitution by adding an amendment only if the people say so, though


· Washington didn’t believe in permanent alliances, he thought it was wrong to have nation depend on nation. I believe he is right because that puts you in debt and in unneeded wars


· He didn’t believe in borrowing money, it only brings the future generations debt


· He believed disagreements between political groups weakened government.


· “political unity” he said “was the key to national success”


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1. Washington didn’t run for president because he was excited to retire and wanted to show he was a president not a king.

2. Washington believed the people were this countries true leaders

3. Washington believed foreign ties, political divisions at home, and public debt were the greatest dangers to the American public.

4. Washington said to only change the constitution by adding an amendment but only if the people say so.

5. Washington believed to change the constitution by adding amendments.

6. I believe Washington’s advice on political parties is still appropriate today. Political unity is, in fact, the key to national success but political parties show freedom of choice and freedom of voice to the people.

7. Washington said he didn’t believe in borrowing money, it only brings the future generations debt.

8. I do and I don’t agree with Washington’s position on alliances. I believe that having alliances is good at the same time he is right by saying alliances mean nation depending on nations.