Inkspire

Would George Washington be able to recognize the country he helped start?

“The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust”.

– George Washington (in his farewell address 228 years ago)

Now the time for an election is upon the nation again, but what’s different this time? How far has the country come? And how far will it go?

Washington’s Plan

The very first president of America gave three main directions towards which he hoped the country would travel, yet in 2024 Washington would be lost in our new society. Those three values were as follows: no geographical sectionalism, no political factionalism, and complete isolationism. What do those words even mean to an average citizen? Geographical sectionalism is where each area in a nation runs differently based on where they are. Political factionalism is the separation of the government into multiple parties or groups, and isolationism is a policy where a country stays out of other countries’ business. Even if it seems like America did not follow George Washington’s clear instructions, what if that is what kept the nation alive?

First, Geographical Unity

What was cracked by the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution is shattered today. The Civil War separated the nation into a North and a South on the basis of slavery, states’ rights, and westward expansion, and the Industrial Revolution widened the gap between rural and urban areas as the rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Accordingly, today, the rural areas of America are considered more conservative due to a lack of development while urban areas are known for being more on the liberal side. For example, every single state in America has slightly varying laws regarding firearms. States with more cities have much stricter laws than rural, conservative states in the south or midwest. Overall, America’s different regions run quite differently – which is something Washington advised against.

Secondly, Political Togetherness

Ever since the first few years of this nation, the government has been split into parties. The cause of this lies in two men who go by the names Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton led the Federalists – a group of people who supported the ratification of the constitution and called for a strong central government. Conversely, Jefferson led people who instead favored small localized governments. Their rivalry planted the seed for the permanent division of the government into a democratic and republican party. Soon enough, millions will flock to numerous locations to vote for the two candidates from each party, and the winner will take all. During his term, Washington worked day and night to keep Hamilton and Jefferson from tearing the country apart, yet it appears to be a lost battle.

Lastly, Isolationism

Once again Hamilton and Jefferson went head to head, yet Hamilton seems to have won in the long run. To put it simply, Jefferson agreed with Washington’s plan to keep America away from international tangles, yet Hamilton saw the US as a national power that needed to be involved. Later down history’s path, America was forced to intervene when authoritarianism under the mask of communism and terrorism in the Middle East threatened to take over. As a developed country with an abundance of resources, it seemed logical for the country to provide aid for anyone and everyone in need. Although, Washington couldn’t have possibly predicted it.

Perhaps it’s Destiny

America has traveled down a long and winding path with still no end in sight. That road took us far away from Washington’s plan; nevertheless, the nation grew. Each of our states are culturally and politically unique, our government has space for multiple different viewpoints, and our resources are used to better the world. What more could a country strive to be? There is someplace for everyone to belong to. It is not what George Washington intended, but we have grown into our role and are thriving.

Why is this Important?

Now you may be wondering why this is important. It is absolutely crucial to understand as voters and citizens how our country is where it is right now. Every name on the ballot has a history; the ballot itself has a history. All of these histories must be told and heard for good decisions to be made. Remember, everyone has a story to tell.