Washington Views on Factions

A detailed Summary of Washington Views on Factions

George Washington is the most well-known American in history. The first president of the United States, his portrait has graced the quarter and the one-dollar bill. Our capital city and even a state have borrowed his name. After Washington's second term as president, he decided not to run for a third term. He wanted to leave the country with some words of wisdom in hopes of guiding the country to longevity without his supervision. One of the most important ideas Washington offered to the country in his Final Address was to stay away from factions.

Washington says that although factions are "inseperable from our nature", they should be avoided (Farewell Address). Parties form because not only is it human nature to congregate with people of similar interests, but also because a group is more likely to change something in government than a single person is. In Washington's cabinet, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton constantly feuded because of differing views on the economy and the role of government in general. Washington must surely have realized that parties were forming; it prompted him to write about them in his Farewell Address.

Washington thought of the divisions in government in differ

Washington also thought about division of government in the sense of political factions - or what he called the "sprit of party" (Farewell Address). Realizing the effects that a party system could have on the government, Washington said that America "must drive far away the dæmon of party spirit" (Letter to Arthur Fenner), and that a party system "forebodes no good" (Letter to John Mathews). Parties fight for control within a government; after one party gains control, they do what they can to hurt their opposing party. Once control is exchanged from the leading party to the opposing party, the former leaders are harmed and persecuted against, and the cycle continues without end. This constant fighting in government makes people retract from parties and seek a simpler end. Washington says that the simpler end that arises is a "permanent despotism" (a dictatorship) - the complete opposite of the democracy the country wanted (Farewell Address). Other great empires, such as the Roman Empire, have fallen into the same fate that Washington says will happen if party systems come about.

George Washington's words of wisdom to the United States were received with much respect. However, it is obvious today that they were not followed. With huge corporate and privately funded conventions the Democrats and Republicans, as well as new parties such as Green and Reform parties, the government could not be more politicized. The buzzword of the past few years has been bi-partisanship - or making a decision with the consent of two parties. More and more people have been slowly turning into Independents, which are non-affiliated people. This is what Washington wanted all along.

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Approximate Word count = 1145
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History