In 1796, as his second term in office drew to a close, President George Washington informed the American people of his retirement in a public letter that would come to be known as his “Farewell Address.”
Washington’s Farewell Address spoke to contemporary concerns that the Union was weak and vulnerable to attacks from internal and external enemies. But even after the uncertainty of the early national period had passed, his message of unity remained powerful. The Farewell Address endures as a critical founding document for issues of Union, partisanship, and isolationism.
Digital Encyclopedia
Explore the George Washington Digital Encyclopedia and learn more about the 1796 Farewell Address.
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Lesson Plan
Teachers, looking for ways to discuss Washington's Farewell Address in your class room?
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Senator Tim Kaine discusses Washington’s Farewell Address
Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine, joins us at the Washington Library to discuss Washington as a leader, his lasting legacy and how it still impact the Senate today and explores Washington's early years.
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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
A resource for scholars, students, and all those interested in George Washington, colonial America, and the Revolutionary and founding eras.
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