If there's one word you hear mentioned in political speeches and beer commercials more than any other in the United States, it's "freedom." Especially when you add the synonym "liberty." Freedom is a big deal in America—hence the giant statue.
The American Revolution was about being freed from the tyranny of British rule. A lot of people got antsy about creating a centralized government because they didn't want to lose that freedom. Washington knew all about that fear. In his farewell address, he tries to paint the republican government they created as the best way to protect the freedom that the American people have always cherished.
Questions About Freedom
- What kind of freedom were the American people looking for in 1796 when Washington published the farewell address?
- How does the theme of freedom relate to the major political ideas and advice that Washington puts forward in the speech?
- Are Washington's arguments about the government and freedom convincing? Why or why not?
- Do you think the kind of freedom that Washington and his audience were concerned with in 1796 was the same as what people talk about today? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Washington's promotion of liberty probably looked to a lot of people like it directly contradicted his promotion of a strong centralized government.
Washington really plays with people's fears of monarchy from before the American Revolution by emphasizing the need to protect liberty.