The legacy of George Washington’s farewell address
The legacy of George Washington’s farewelladdress.
George Washington’s Farewell Address bequeathed Americans a legacy of multifaceted significance. And hitherto, its legacy has seen its influential power in almost all spheres of the United States of AmericaThis essay aims to discourse upon its legacy from three aspects: the Americanconstitutionism, party politics and foreign relations featured with isolationism.
As of constitutionism, Washington utilized this address to safeguard and thus contribute to the development of the American constitution and its federalism, republicanism and presidentialism. Not only did Washington’s time see the rise of sectionilism but also later generations see exaggeration of the state power over federal power. Washington’s ferventsupport of federalism was based on unity of the whole nation and his ardent upholding of federalism helped Americans embrace the unity of the nation and thus the erection of federalism
was secured. Washington’s act of relinquishing his assured second presidency was of vital significance both to the republicanism and presidentialism. He established the modern presidential tenure restricting any president from more than two presidencies. And this very act helped the fledglingnation discard the downward monarchythat was widely adopted by many other tyrannicalnations, thus safeguarding its republicanism.
The bipartisanpolitical system is so typical of the American party politics. Though this party politics system did not derive itself from the Washington’s day, yet it was nurtured during his time. Washington held political fractions in hatred and admonished his fellows about its detrimental impacts. During his tenure, he exerted himself very much in the efforts of promoting unity of all parties, reconcilingdifferentiated party interests and oppressing party politics, which served as a model for future leaders as for how to lead two
parties into harmony. Anyway, the formation of bipartisan system is inevitable in hindsight.
In the sphere of foreignrelations, Washington along with his isolationism and neutral policy founded the basis for the futureforeign policies to come. This isolationism was firstlyinvented to put umbrella over the American national interests. In the later periods, it provided America a neutral stand, which facilitated the American development and secured its safety, peace and sovereignty, avoiding the ongoing wars in Europe.Peculiarly significant is its role in the foreignrelations field because it set the tone for it. The MonroeDoctrine issued in 1823 was almost in homogeneity with Washington’s isolationism. And this doctrine had the same influences as its predecessor did to the effect that theyabandoned foreign alliance, stabilized the nation and secured its independence, conducing to the comprehensivepower. And Washington’s isolationism had its far-reaching influences during the fisrt world war. During the
war, American again adopted the Neutrality Policy and made transactions with many engagedcountries, which turned American the first power after the war. And American became the center of the international economy and savior of many post-war nations. During the Second World War, the long established US Neutrality Act was still in line with the former foreign policies and American once again optimized all its chances to expand its comprehensive power. And all this provided America the prerequisite for its imperialism. Though America has been seeking hegemonism since the cold war, yet it is the derivative of what Washington initiated decades ago. Washington’s Farewell Address is both the reflection of his political experience and his patriotism of his country and his instructions to his fellowmen. His legacy is profound and immortal.