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Launching the Nation Primary Source

President George Washington’s

Farewell Address
ABOUT THE READING George Washington VOCABULARY
served as president for eight years. In 1796 he constitutes makes
told Congress that he would retire at the end
edifice structure
of his term. In September of that year he gave
a speech to Congress. In it he outlined what artifices tricks
he felt was most important for the young inducement attraction, lure
country to do in the future. In the excerpt
speculation guessing,
below, Washington focuses on the importance
of the national union.
theorizing

As you read note why Washington thinks it is so

important for the country to stay united.

The unity of Government which constitutes you

one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so;
for it is a 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. But as it is easy to foresee that from differ-
ent causes and from different quarters, much pains
will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken
in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is
the point in your political fortress against which the The idea of national union is
batteries of internal and external enemies will be the one that will be most often
attacked. Often these attacks will
most constantly and actively (though often covertly be hidden or subtle.
and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment,
that you should properly estimate the immense
value of your national Union to your collective
and individual happiness—that you should cher-
ish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment The Union is what will keep the
to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak country safe and successful. Be
watchful of any attempt to weaken
of it as of the [protector] of your political safety the ties that hold the country
together.
Source: From Farewell Address of George Washington
from The Independence Chronicle, September 26, 1796.

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Washington’s Farewell Address, continued Primary Source

and prosperity; watching for its preservation with

jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may
suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be
abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first
dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of
our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred
ties which now link together the various parts. . .
For this you have every inducement of sympa-
thy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a
common country, that country has a right to con-
centrate your affections. The name of American,
You should always prefer the
which belongs to you in your national capacity, must name American to any name
always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than linked to your local area.

any appellation derived from local discriminations.

With slight shades of difference, you have the same
religion, manners, habits, and political principles.
You have, in a common cause, fought and triumphed
together; the Independence and liberty you possess
are the work of joint counsels and joint efforts, of
common dangers, sufferings, and successes.
But these considerations, however powerfully
Supporting the Union not only
they address themselves to your sensibility, are feels good, it is what is best for
greatly outweighed by those, which apply more you.

immediately to your interest. Here, every portion of

our country finds the most commanding motives
for carefully guarding and preserving the Union of
the whole. . .
These considerations speak a persuasive language
to every reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit
the continuance of the Union as a primary object of
patriotic desire. Is there a doubt, whether a common
government can embrace so large a sphere? Let expe-
rience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such
a case were criminal. We are authorized to hope that
A central government can manage
a proper organization of the whole, with the auxiliary a large country. Local and state
agency of governments for the respective subdivi- governments provide help.

sions, will afford a happy issue to the experiment. It

is well worth a fair and full experiment.

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Washington’s Farewell Address, continued Primary Source

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

1. Why does Washington say Americans should protect their Union from attack?

2. Why does the name American create a feeling of shared pride?

3. Why does Washington think the national government will be a success?

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18 Launching the Nation
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Launching the Nation
Literature
1. The American Revolution.
2. Before the Revolution, New York was a
quite place, with several signs of British
rule.
Primary Source–
Washington’s Farewell
Address
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. The Union must be kept safe because it
is the basis for America’s strength, safety,
and prosperity.
2. The name American reminds people of
the experiences they have shared to fight
for their freedom and to create a new gov-
ernment. It reminds them of all that they
have in common.
3. The government is designed so that small-
er units of government will support the
central government and allow it to man-
age even a large country.
Primary Source–Jefferson
and Hamilton Disagree
about Government
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Jefferson thinks that the Constitution does
not give the government the power to set
up a national bank.
2. Jefferson is concerned that if people go
beyond a strict interpretation of the
Constitution, the powers of the central
government will expand without any
limits.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Hamilton thinks that a loose interpreta-
tion of the Constitution will allow the
government to meet the needs of the
country better.
2. If the purpose of a law was to do some-
thing that is outlined in the Constitution
and was not specifically forbidden
by the Constitution, then it would be
constitutional.
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40
Answer Key
MAKE A COMPARISON
1. Jefferson thinks the Constitution should
be strictly interpreted, and Hamilton
thinks it should be interpreted loosely.
2. People who believe the Constitution
should be strictly interpreted think the
role of government should be strictly
defined and limited. A loose interpreta-
tion of the Constitution, like Hamilton’s,
allows for the expansion of government
power.
History and Geography
MAP ACTIVITY ANSWERS
1. New York
2. Pennsylvania
ANALYZING MAPS
1. Region Philadelphia
2. Place The Potomac River
3. Sequencing New York City, Philadelphia,
and Washington, D.C.
4. Contrasting Washington, D.C. is fur-
ther south than the other two cities. The
first two capitals were also part of states.
Washington, D.C. is not part of any one
state.
5. Making Inferences Answers will vary.
Possible answer: New York City grew and
prospered quickly. Many people were liv-
ing there in the late 1700s. Many people
in New York also favored a strong central
government. They may have felt more
strongly about living near the capital.
6. Making Judgments Answers will vary.
Economics and History
ACTIVITY
You may wish to verify that students have cor-
rectly graphed the data from the table in the
space provided.
What Did You Learn?
1. Consumption of oil and gas products in
the United States has tended to increase
between the years 1920 and 2000.
2. Oil and gas consumption in the United
States increased by a factor of 9 between
1930 and 1940.
Launching the Nation