Question

What does Washington mean?
Quote
".. avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments."

Answer 1

The quote you have provided is from George Washington's Farewell Address in 1796. In this context, Washington is referring to the danger and negative consequences that may arise from having excessively large and powerful military establishments. He believed that such establishments could potentially lead to an increase in militarism, the erosion of civil liberties, and the entanglement in unnecessary foreign conflicts. Washington emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong defense but also warned against the dangers of excessive military power.