Understanding Washington's Farewell Address Hardcover (Hand-Revised Edition)

For over two centuries, George Washington's famous "Farewell Address" has been highly praised and profoundly influential. Since 1893, every year on Washington's birthday, the U.S. Senate selects a senator to read this address to commemorate the Founding Father; the House of Representatives also adopted this tradition in 1899 and maintained it until 1984. This book provides a paragraph-by-paragraph interpretation of this deeply moving address, taking you into Washington's inner world, allowing you to feel his noble character and broad vision, comprehend his extraordinary wisdom and statecraft, and explore the secret of Americans' freedom and prosperity.

About the Authors

Paul Skousen is an American constitutional scholar, author, and university professor, with extensive and in-depth research on the U.S. Constitution and the Americanization of socialism. He served in the CIA and as a White House intelligence officer for President Reagan. He holds a Master's degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a degree in Journalism from Brigham Young University. He has authored 15 books.

Fang Wei is a veteran media professional, American common sense scholar, and high-tech expert, with over 30 years of experience in the technology and media industries. He has founded multiple media and technology companies and hosted and participated in programs such as "Fang Wei Time," "Into America," and the large-scale history series "A History of America." He has conducted in-depth research on American history and contemporary affairs. Fang Wei graduated from Fudan University in Shanghai and earned a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Iowa in the United States.

Introduction

U.S. Senate Historical Office

In September 1796, burdened by the presidency and criticized by political opponents, George Washington announced that he would not seek a third term. With the assistance of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Washington penned a farewell address as his political testament to the nation. This address was not only meant to inspire and guide future generations but also served as a strong defense of his accomplishments in office and a classic articulation of Federalist principles.

Washington's greatest concern was the safety of the Constitution, which had been in place for eight years. He believed that sectional interests, political factionalism, and foreign interference in American domestic affairs threatened the stability of the republic. He urged the American people to set aside partisan strife for the national interest. At the time, political parties were not widely accepted as important organizations outside the Constitution, and Washington feared that these factional disputes would sow the seeds of national ruin.

Washington was not the founder of American isolationism. He believed that temporary alliances with other nations were necessary in "extraordinary emergencies." However, he did not recommend forming "permanent alliances" with foreign countries. He warned that such relationships would inevitably erode American national interests.

Washington did not publicly deliver the Farewell Address. The text of the address was first published on September 19, 1796, in the Daily American Advertiser in Philadelphia, and subsequently in major newspapers across the nation.

In January 1862, when the Constitution was threatened by civil war, 1,000 Philadelphia citizens petitioned Congress to commemorate Washington's 130th birthday by having "Washington's Farewell Address publicly read in the House or Senate of Congress on the morning of that day." Both the Senate and House unanimously agreed to convene in the House of Representatives chamber on February 22, 1862, where Senate Secretary John W. Forney read the Farewell Address. An eyewitness recalled the scene as deeply moving.

However, the reading of the Farewell Address did not immediately become a tradition. It was not until 1888 in the Senate and 1899 in the House of Representatives that it began to be read during routine legislative sessions. The House of Representatives maintained this tradition until 1984.

Since 1893, the Senate has continued the tradition of selecting a senator to read the Farewell Address on Washington's birthday to commemorate the Founding Father. This task rotates between senators from the two major political parties. After each reading, the selected senator signs a black leather-bound memorial book kept by the Secretary and delivers a brief address.

The text of the address presented in this book is taken from the original final manuscript housed in the New York Public Library, kindly provided by The Papers of George Washington, with only modernized adjustments to spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Preface
Chapter One: I Will Not Seek a Third Term
Chapter Two: Preserving the Union
Chapter Three: The Dangers of Factionalism (Part 1)
Chapter Four: The Dangers of Factionalism (Part 2)
Chapter Five: Amending the Constitution
Chapter Six: Religion and Morality
Chapter Seven: Taxation and Debt
Chapter Eight: Foreign Relations
Chapter Nine: Foreign Influence
Chapter Ten: Conclusion

Book Details

Publisher: Genesis Press, USA
ISBN: 978-1-963236-21-7
Pages: 112 pages
Text Language: Traditional Chinese
Publication Date: First edition released September 28, 2024

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