George Washington

party divisions
In 1796, as George Washington was preparing to leave office, he wrote an address describing his hopes and fears for the new American nation. Among them, he noted the rise of factions and parties, and advised strongly against that. Washington also had a staunch neutral stance in foreign affairs, and strongly urged America to continue that trend, and not to become entrenched in European Wars, not to make permanent alliances, and to work and live in their own continent, extending commerce to all foreign nations, making America the peaceful merchant in a hostile world. He advises the American people to vote on principle, to be knowledgeable about the candidates and to make the best decision for common interest of themselves, their neighbors, and the country. In respect to domestic affairs, Washington said many things that were interesting in hindsight. He told the Americans that they were one nation, whole and indivisible, one people. He warned them against geographical violence between North and South and East and West, saying these boundaries were simply a difference in economic systems. Washington notes how each of them impacts and compliments each other. The West and South's agriculture feeds and supplies the merchants, traders and men of industry in New England. He also noted how parties could be a tool to cleave the nation geographically, and as such, warned against them. He wanted the American people to choose their leaders on principle and knowledge, rather than on a platform. On the foreign affairs front, George Washington was quite forward. Washington knew that mingling in European Wars would only lead to dependency. He warned against alliances, but knew the importance of trade. Washington wanted the country to profit, but not to become overly involved or entangled. He mentioned specifically the war between France and England. It was certainly not a new war, just one that had flared up again. He knew that America might feel obligated to become involved. Some might say the Americans owed it to the French. But Washington knew that many of the trading goods that are deported from America go to Britain. Washington felt keeping all possible trading partners would do the most good for the country. Washington had a unique perspective; because he had watched many of these threats come to be. In his cabinet, he watched as tensions rose between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. He undoubtedly saw the rise of factions and parties on the horizon. In the election between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Washington said he had no interest in influencing that decision. He simply wanted the best successor for a new nation. He also saw the tensions between the Southern and Northern economies, as early as the Constitutional Convention. He saw a potential for geographic partition of the country. In only sixty five years this fear would ultimately come to pass. On the foreign affairs front, Washington had a great deal of experience. He was well aware that the United States relied heavily on both Great Britain and France for a great variety of goods, and losing either as a trading partner would be a heavy loss to America. Washington was also afraid of becoming entangled in world affairs and becoming deeply in debt in foreign wars and causing great suffering for the American people, in causes and fights not their own. American history would certainly be different if Washington's successors had followed his recommendations. Unfortunately by the time they had come, the divide between Federalist and Democratic-Republican was all too clear. The party system emerged almost immediately. Geographical partition would cause a Civil War in 1861. Not long after Washington left office, America fought a war with North African pirates, getting involved in foreign affairs. In 1812, after being constantly harassed by the British navy, a second war of Independence came to be. Since that date, American history is littered with foreign wars, conflicts and interventions. Washington's idealistic vision for the country could not be upheld in his absence, but his precedents lived on, dictating us to this day.

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