On September 19, 1796, a newspaper named the American Daily Advertiser published a document addressed to the people of the United States.

It was written by President George Washington and announced that he would retire from the nation's highest office after almost half a century of public service.

But the vast majority of the text was dedicated to

advice Washington was giving to his fellow citizens. They were, in his words, quote,

sentiments which are the result of much reflection, and all important to the permanency of your

felicity as a people. This document, now known as Washington's farewell address, talks a lot about political parties

and the Constitution, but one of the most famous sections deals with foreign policy.

Here, Washington warned his countrymen to, quote, observe good faith and justice toward all nations,

and cultivate peace and harmony with all.

Washington believed that, as a republic, that America should act differently than the other nations of the world. He wrote, quote, it will be worthy of a free,

enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation to give to mankind the magnanimous and two-noveles

of a people always guided by an exalted

justice and benevolence. But this advice was not just a matter of the country's morality and

honor. It was also one of strategic necessity. Washington feared that to do otherwise would

mean getting involved in foreign wars. That, he felt, would threaten the well-being, maybe even

the existence of the young United States. He writes that, quote, the nation prompted by ill-will

and resentment sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy.

The government sometimes participates in the national propensity and adopts

through passion what reason would reject.

To avoid the temptations to war, Washington famously advised, quote, to steer clear of permanent

alliances with any portion of the foreign world.

To Washington, the reasons were obvious, he asked, quote, why forego the advantages of so

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