How did Washington influence the development of political parties?
In his Farewell Address Washington warned against the danger of party and faction. He believed in the virtues of nonpartisan government, in which patriotic citizens of different views would be willing to serve together. Washington’s great stature as a national hero and his willingness to serve for two terms bridged strong regional differences, and gave the new government time to take root before party factions could become divisive. At the same time, however, Washington’s belief in a strong executive and his nationalist sentiments inclined him to favor Hamilton’s policies over Jefferson’s. His warnings against party and faction to the contrary, he was in many respects the country’s first Federalist president. Critical Thinking Exercise How Americans Judge Their Political Leaders Work individually or with other students to develop a list of criteria by which Americans today judge their political leaders. You may want to consult the work of presidential historians and political scientist
