George Washington on Political Parties

George Washington was deeply wary of political parties and expressed his concerns about them in his Farewell Address in 1796. He feared that the rise of political factions would lead to division, strife, and the weakening of the young nation. Washington believed that parties would prioritize their own interests over the common good and that this could destabilize the government.

He warned that political parties could cause “the spirit of revenge” and lead to decisions that would “oppress the minority.” Washington also saw political parties as a way for foreign nations to exploit divisions within the U.S. for their own benefit, ultimately harming the country’s independence and unity.

Though Washington did not foresee the full development of the two-party system, his warnings about factionalism have been cited by scholars as a prescient critique of the divisive nature of political parties in American democracy. He favored a united government, where leaders put the nation’s welfare above partisan interests.