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Religion And Morality: The Forgotten Lesson Of George Washington's Farewell Address, Kenneth P. Schell

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

This paper attempts to show that there is a forgotten lesson of religion and morality found in Washington’s Farewell Address. Like many of the Founders, George Washington believed that a government established as a republic could only stand if the people were virtuous. The works of many modern historians use a traditional two lesson narrative to explain the significance of Washington’s Farewell Address. The lesson is that the nation should be wary of entangling political alliances and the growing spirit of political factions. However, Washington put forth a third lesson that should be included when discussing Washington’s Farwell Address, that …