Question

In your own words, what did washington mean in his farewell address when he warned about the "threat of the spirit of party"?

Answer 1

Washington was afraid of political factions dividing the country. Washington didn't have to worry about choosing a faction, since he was the consensus choice to be the first president under the current constitution, but heated factionalism would soon be the norm. His successor's administration passed laws limiting the opposition's freedom to criticize the government and heated partisanship between Adams and Jefferson's supporters market the 1800 election.