George Washington?!?!?

Question

what are the five reasons (stated in the farewell address) why Washington was against political parties

Answer 1

Washington doesn't exactly harp on five specific points. Depending on how you organize the ideas in his speech, you might come up with a dozen or only one real objection to political parties. Here's what I infer are his major objections to political parties in his 'farewell address', for what it's worth:

ANTI-UNITY. To Washington it was of paramount importance that Americans think of themselves as -Americans-, and not anything else. To do otherwise, he argued, sows the seeds of destruction by either dividing a whole people into subgroups or identifying with foreign powers. As such, pretty much every argument he gives could be re-phrased to something like 'political parties interfere with unity by doing ___'. Unity served everyone and is beneficial to all... its opposite which is beneficial to only a few could only be called tyranny in Washington's eyes.

FOREIGN INFLUENCE. Britain (or whoever the next enemy might be) may not be able to overcome the combined rebellion of America, but what if it didn't have to? One could way to encourage local sympathy might be though the support of a local party. Foreign influence would thus be subverting the democratic process, and perhaps make it ripe for a complete takeover.

FOMENTING DISCONTENT. Political parties, by their very nature, do not include everyone. Can they be expected to treat non-members as well as members? Almost certainly not. Quite the contrary, Washington feared that in their struggle to obtain members, influence, and power political parties would stoop to the lowest denominator, spreading lies and encouraging ill treatment of non-members.

NOT FEDERAL. While Washington was an advocate of freedom, he cautioned that TOO MUCH freedom could also be a very bad thing. The federal laws were put in place and agreed upon for a reason - to protect and benefit the people as a whole. Individual political parties, however, are NOT the federal government and therefore may be prone to do things it wouldn't do. At the extreme, a party might change federal rules to suit itself instead of the public.

POWER GRAB. Much of the beauty of the American government, Washington thought, was in its careful balance of powers. Checks and balances would hopefully prevent most bad things from happening. But when a politician is concerned with the interests of his party and not the people, it suits him to obtain as much control over as many functions of the government as he can so the other parties cannot have them. This completely borks up the system as a whole, sacrificing balance for influence.

Personally, I have to give the guy a lot of credit - much of this is completely borne out by the last few centuries. Political parties are so notorious for mudslinging now that positive ads are considered the exception. Many of the checks and balances in the system have all but disappeared as late (what's up with the House investigating one presidents Christmas card list, but ignoring overt torture and illegal activities?!). And many people have become so disenfranchised by the politicking that they have completely given up on their democracy altogether. Maybe Washington was right and we should get rid of the lot of them!

Answer 2

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

Translation: Political parties can spiit the United States geographically.

Read the website and come up with the other 4 reasons.

Answer 3

1. He cultivated marijuana
2. He had slaves
3. He had children by his slaves
4. He had a wife
5. He had horrible teeth

He was too lazy from smoking all that weed he grew, as well he had to raise his children. When he had time, he had to keep his slave in check by wipping them. Not to mention that he had to find time to shag the ole lady, and his teeth were horrible. I wouldnt want to smile with all of that responsiblity let alone have a party...

Answer 4

He was sick of Marthas crowd
He didn't want to be president anyway
He was ready to say good riddens
He was tired
He just was confused with social life and politics with a
sigh of relief

Answer 5

well one is that it gained allies and it like some way to try to black mail or put out bribes so other people would vote for them. and he didn't want to win that way. that is all i have.