what was Washington’s views on political parties?

1 answer

George Washington famously warned against the dangers of political parties in his Farewell Address in 1796. He believed that political factions would divide the nation and promote individual ambitions and rivalries over the collective good. Washington argued that political parties could undermine the unity and stability of the young United States and lead to a lack of compromise and cooperation. He called for Americans to prioritize their common interests as citizens of the nation rather than aligning themselves with partisan factions. Washington's views on political parties influenced the early political culture in the United States, as many political leaders of that time tried to minimize or avoid association with formal parties.