What This Document Is
This document presents George Washington’s Farewell Address, delivered in 1796 as he prepared to leave office. It’s a historical text, published here as a Senate Document in 2000, featuring a modernized version of the original manuscript held by The New York Public Library. The document includes an introduction prepared by the United States Senate Historical Office, providing context for the address’s creation and its subsequent history within the U.S. legislative process.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is valuable for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the founding of the United States, early American political thought, and the development of U.S. foreign policy. It’s frequently used in courses on U.S. History, Political Science, and American Government. Understanding Washington’s warnings about factionalism and foreign entanglements remains relevant to contemporary political debates. The document’s inclusion of its historical reception – specifically the tradition of reading it aloud in Congress – offers insight into how foundational texts are remembered and reinterpreted over time.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides the *text* of the address and historical context, but it does not offer in-depth analysis or interpretation. It doesn’t include scholarly articles debating the address’s meaning or its impact on subsequent events. Readers will need to supplement this primary source with secondary sources to fully understand its significance.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* The complete text of Washington’s Farewell Address, modernized for readability.
* An introduction detailing the historical circumstances surrounding the address’s creation, including the contributions of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
* A history of the address’s commemoration in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including the tradition of annual readings.
* Information about where to purchase the document from the U.S. Government Printing Office.
This preview provides only a description of the document’s contents and its historical and academic value. The full text of the address itself is not included in this preview.