On September 19, 1796, the American Daily Advertiser published President George Washington’s Farewell Address for the first time. It’s considered one of the most important documents in United States history.
With the help of James Madison, Washington wrote the first draft of his Farewell Address in 1792, when he planed to retire after serving a single term in office. However, he grew concerned for the nation when Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson became involved in a bitter feud resulting in the creation of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties. Washington worried that their division as well as foreign affairs could rip the nation apart without his leadership. So Washington ran for president a second time and was unanimously reelected.
Four years later, Washington decided it was definitely time to end his presidency and revisited the letter. Alexander Hamilton helped him revise it. The letter was in part an announcement that he planned to not seek a third term in office.
Washington’s 32-page hand-written address was first published in David C. Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796. It was formally titled, “The Address of General Washington To The People of The United States on his declining of the Presidency of the United States.” It later became known simply as his Farewell Address, following decades of service to his nation.
In his address, Washington reiterated what he said at his first inaugural address, that he believed he was never really qualified to be America’s president, and that if he’d accomplished anything, it was because of the support of the people. He expressed his confidence in the American people to do what was necessary to survive and prosper.
Though Washington had the utmost confidence in the American people, he also used much of the address to offer advice as a “parting friend” on what he saw as some of the most significant threats to America.
Washington stressed the importance of national unity, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, and warned of divisions brought on by political parties and partisan politics, and against foreign influence in domestic affairs. He also expressed hope that the United States would entertain peaceful and prosperous relations with other nations, but warned against American involvement in European wars and long-term alliances with foreign countries. Washington’s words reveal that he foresaw America’s rise to a world power if the young nation were given a period to rebuild and grow.
Following its first printing, Washington’s address was quickly reprinted in a number of newspapers around the country. It was then printed and distributed as a pamphlet.
Years later, in 1862, thousands of Philadelphians signed and submitted a petition to Congress to honor Washington’s 130th birthday. They requested that his Farewell Address be read “in one or the other of the Houses of Congress.” It was first read in February 1862 in the House of Representatives. It went on to become an annual tradition in both houses in 1899. The House of Representatives ended the practice in 1984, though the Senate continues to read his address to this day.
Washington’s Farewell Address served as the foundation for a substantial portion of American domestic and foreign policy. It was heeded throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th. In fact, the United States declined to sign a treaty of alliance with a foreign nation until the 1949 formation of NATO.
Fun fact – the writing of Washington’s Farewell Address is featured in the hit musical Hamilton with the song “One Last Time.”
Farewell Address Featured on
American Credo Stamp
The Post Office Department released a new series of stamps in 1960 that shared well-known principles said in a few words by some of America’s early leaders. The first stamp, featuring George Washington, was issued in January 1960, with five more released over the next year. The Washington credo stamp included a portion of his Farewell Address, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations.”
The credo stamps were designed to resemble colonial currency. Also, symbols that relate to the statement are used in the designs, as well as a likeness of the author’s signature. One hundred distinguished Americans chose the individual principles. In addition to Washington, the selected quotes came from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Scott Key, Abraham Lincoln, and Patrick Henry.
Click here to read the full text of Washington’s Farewell Address.
Click here for more Washington stamps.
FREE printable This Day in History album pages Download a PDF of today’s article. Get a binder or other supplies to create your This Day in History album. |
Discover what else happened on This Day in History.
The article regarding President George Washington’s Farewell Address (from “This Day in History”, September 19, 1796) became part of the basis of “American domestic and foreign policy”. This and hundreds of other historical documents represent the foundation of American history that at one time were taught in high school and college courses. Sadly many of such documents fell by the wayside because relevance indicated that more current topics should be emphasized over “old history”.
As an eleven year old stamp collector in 1960, I had been collecting for about four years and really enjoyed reading the short informational sketches below the pictures of stamps in my album. To this day, I love American History which has been nurtured by my love of stamp collecting.
Hopefully, we won’t forget too much American History.
The threat of World domination by Communism was the biggest reason why the U.S. went against Washington’s advice not to get into long-term alliance with other nations. NATO in 1949, SEATO followed. We got involved with WWI because of German aggression at sea, sinking ships of non-combatants, and WWII because we were attacked by Japan and Germany declared war on the U.S. If the nations of the World would just get along and not threaten neighbors (hint China and Russia) we wouldn’t need to be in alliances.
Thank you both Mr Spencer Snow, and Kenneth Snyder. Well said and written comment, regarding Washington’s Farewell Address, and such loss to our current culture, and the ramifications of the need to participate in foreign wars, Excellent!!
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Communism got its start in the early 20th century, certainly not in Washington’s day. Washington and many others have warned over and over that “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”. Washington warned us of monarchs, tyrants and dictators, and they are still very much among us and there is no possible way that they will agree to “just get along”. There are many–even in our own government–who aspire to be the leader of “a new world order”, and until human nature rises above the lust for power, we’d better be prepared to fight or be enslaved! Thanks to Mystic for chronicling the struggle to gain U.S. independence, lest we forget!
Like many of you, I love history and collecting stamps. Although I disagree with those on the lack of teaching history today (it is taught), there are other important subjects to be learned for the sake of the future. Where we’ve been and where we’re going goes hand-in-hand. But how much history can be absorbed and retained without sacrificing tomorrow? Today’s youth have a job to do for future history. Let them do it and leave the teaching to those who value truth. Back the teachers and stop choosing fiction over fact in history and stop cutting funding for education.