Washington had maintained a strategic distance from American involvement in the dispute issuing the Proclamation of Neutrality (which declares the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain) during the French Revolutionary war. This prompted the Neutrality Act of 1794 (which makes it illegal for an American to wage war against any country at peace with the United States). He then tries to further disclose his way to deal with foreign policy in this segment of the address by advocating for free trade with all nations, arguing that trade connections ought to be set up uniformly and the government’s rule ought to be constrained to safeguard stable trade, guarding the privileges of American merchants, and any supplies necessary to guarantee the conventional guidelines of trade (Farewell Address) (Various).
Washington closes his letter to the American citizens by requesting them to forgive any disappointments during his time in office, guaranteeing them that they were because of his own shortcomings and in no way, shape or form intentional. He shares his enthusiasm about joining society as a private citizen in the free government they have made together throughout his 45 years of public service (Farewell Address) (Elkins and McKitrick, et