George Washington's Advice to the Nation	Name:
Mr. Kersey									Class:

Part I:
Directions: Read the passages and explain George Washington's advise in your own 
words.  Some of the language will be difficult for you to understand, so you'll 
need to put your reading cap on and use the rest of the passage to help you.

1) "The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive 
government of the United States not being far distant...it appears to me proper
...that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed to decline 
being considered."








2) "In contemplating the causes which may disturb our union it occurs as matter 
of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing 
parties by geographical discriminations -- Northern and Southern, Atlantic and 
Western."










3) "Let me...warn you...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...It serves always to distract the public councils and 
enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with illfounded 
jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; 
foments occasionally riot and insurrection."







4) "Of all the...habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and 
morality are indispensible [indispensable] supports...Reason and experieince 
[experience] both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in 
exclusion of religious principle...Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of 
popular government...Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with 
indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?"











5) "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in 
extending our commerial [commercial] relations to have with them as little 
political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, 
let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a 
set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote relation...It is 
our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the 
foreign world."









 
Part II
Directions:  Use recent news articles from newspapers, magazines, or the 
internet to help you find modern day examples of how we have not heeded the 
pieces of Washington's advice listed below.  Summarize those examples here and 
be prepared to discuss them in class.  Make sure to include a reference to where 
you found the information.

1)	Avoid public debt and the borrowing of money.















2)	Avoid dangerous or long-term foreign alliances.

















3)  Avoid political divisions (and political parties) at home.