The Farewell Address

This lesson focuses on George Washington’s use of rhetorical devices to support his argument for national unity in his Farewell Address. Students will identify specific examples of ethos, pathos, and logos from the speech in order to explain how Washington develops and supports his arguments. In identifying and explaining Washington’s use of rhetorical devices, students will be able to evaluate the persuasiveness of Washington’s Farewell Address.

• describe the historical context and purpose of Washington’s Farewell Address;
• define the rhetorical terms pathos, ethos and logos;
• identify Washington’s use of pathos, ethos and logos to develop his ideas and determine if they are applied effectively;
• describe the fundamental concerns Washington addresses as he advocates for national unity.

George Washington inherited family property at age twenty, served as a loyal British subject in the French and Indian War, and then returned to Virginia, where he expected to spend his life as a reserved gentleman farmer. Instead, he later found himself in charge of the newly formed Continental Army at war with England. After the successful bid for colonial independence was officially established through a 1783 treaty, George Washington returned to his life as a farmer in Virginia.

Four years later, he was summoned to the Constitutional Convention, which had met in Philadelphia to alter, and ultimately replace, the Articles of Confederation—the nation’s first government. Washington worked hard to ensure the ratification of the final document: the United States Constitution. He was unanimously voted president of the new nation, not once, but twice.

As the first president of the United States, Washington envisioned an ideal government where public servants debated issues without concern for party loyalty, but he was ultimately disappointed. Particularly during his second term, Washington was dismayed by the emergence of ideological factions within the United States government. He was also keenly aware of the omnipresent possibility of entanglement in European drama. Despite Washington’s best efforts, conflict over economic and foreign policy, among other issues, served as a breeding ground for ideological divisions that would form the first political parties of the United States.

George Washington submitted his Farewell Address to the American people in September of 1796. He had served his country for over two decades, leading an army through revolution against England and a committee through the writing of a new government. A third term as president was his for the taking, but he demurred. Far from recounting his accomplishments in steering a new nation through its first years, his Farewell Address is a humble missive focused mostly on his deep concerns about the country’s future, particularly as they related to sectionalism, political parties, and foreign alliances.