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To the Farewell Address: Ideas of Early American Foreign Policy
Washington's Farewell Address comprises various aspects of American political thinking. It reaches beyond any period limited in time and reveals the basic issue of the American attitude toward foreign policy: the tension between Idealism and Realism. Settled by men who looked for gain and by men who sought freedom, born into independence in a century of enlightened thinking and of power politics, America has wavered in her foreign policy between Idealism and Realism, and her great historical moments have occurred when both were combined. Thus the history of the Farwell Address forms only part of the wider, endless, urgent problem. Felix Gilbert analyzes the diverse intellectual trends which went into the making of the Farwell Address, and sheds light on its beginnings.
- GenresHistoryAmerican History
181 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1961
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January 23, 2018Gilbert is interested in the unfolding of conflicting ideological orientations in the genesis of Federalist and Republican parties during this period. He addresses the role of party conflict in the formulation of guiding principles for American foreign policy. To do this he places ideological debate within the context of partisan struggles over the content of Washington's Farewell Address.
Immediately antecedent to discussing the physical genesis of the Farewell Address, Gilbert spends ample time ferreting out the roots of political realism in American thought. These he finds in an American adaptation of the European school of the "doctrine of the interest of states". This 18th century European school of diplomatic thought held that the only principle which could guide a statesman in the formulation of foreign policy was a conception of the nation's "true interest", which in turn rested on the principle of power accumulation through territorial aggrandizement. A "balance of power" was the only way in which to avoid perpetual war in a world naturally characterized by naked power politics.
Hamilton, Gilbert points out, had read widely in works of the school of the "doctrine of the interest of states". When it came to writing the Farewell Address, Washington's initial draft had been written with the assistance of the Republican Madison. Hamilton feared that this draft stressed the ideals of Republican government in a manner which could be interpreted as a call for intervention in European wars on the behalf of the French Revolution. America's "true interest'' in the view of Hamilton, and indeed Washington, lay with becoming a power unto itself through an application of the European "doctrine of the two spheres". If the American nation were to become involved at that early stage in European conflict, it would become a mere satellite of a great power.
The partisan conflict over who would have a hand in writing the Farewell Address could therefore be seen as a deeper ideological conflict over idealism and realism in American foreign policy. Retaining some of the Republican idealism of Madison's draft, the final version of Washington's Farewell Address is a document which grafts the idealism of American democracy to an enunciation of the European concept of interest politics. As the classic American expression of an 18th century "Political Testament", this document sets the framework for ,the realist/idealist debate in American foreign policy.
Immediately antecedent to discussing the physical genesis of the Farewell Address, Gilbert spends ample time ferreting out the roots of political realism in American thought. These he finds in an American adaptation of the European school of the "doctrine of the interest of states". This 18th century European school of diplomatic thought held that the only principle which could guide a statesman in the formulation of foreign policy was a conception of the nation's "true interest", which in turn rested on the principle of power accumulation through territorial aggrandizement. A "balance of power" was the only way in which to avoid perpetual war in a world naturally characterized by naked power politics.
Hamilton, Gilbert points out, had read widely in works of the school of the "doctrine of the interest of states". When it came to writing the Farewell Address, Washington's initial draft had been written with the assistance of the Republican Madison. Hamilton feared that this draft stressed the ideals of Republican government in a manner which could be interpreted as a call for intervention in European wars on the behalf of the French Revolution. America's "true interest'' in the view of Hamilton, and indeed Washington, lay with becoming a power unto itself through an application of the European "doctrine of the two spheres". If the American nation were to become involved at that early stage in European conflict, it would become a mere satellite of a great power.
The partisan conflict over who would have a hand in writing the Farewell Address could therefore be seen as a deeper ideological conflict over idealism and realism in American foreign policy. Retaining some of the Republican idealism of Madison's draft, the final version of Washington's Farewell Address is a document which grafts the idealism of American democracy to an enunciation of the European concept of interest politics. As the classic American expression of an 18th century "Political Testament", this document sets the framework for ,the realist/idealist debate in American foreign policy.
October 21, 2022
I am definitely not into history, but I had to read this book for U.S. history. Shout out to Prof. Schwartz who assigned this. Very hard to read, it might be a user error though so I'll let it slide. I did learn about whatever foreign policy is and that George Washington is a G for making the Farewell Address (spoiler alert). Poor guy just wanted to retire and become a farmer. Anyways, after reading this book I definitely hit a brain PR. I maxed that bad boy out.
November 19, 2024
Felix Gilbert’s book To the Farewell Address: Ideas of Early American Foreign Policy attempts to encapsulate the motivations and assumptions behind foreign policy in the early republic. Gilbert describes his approach to writing this book as delving into “the process by which… two elements, European notions and American assumptions, were developed into a special American approach to foreign policy” (16). His purpose is not to simply review early American foreign policy from the outside, but to describe its tumultuous creation as the result of all the influences both external and internal on the subject.
American foreign policy was, according to Gilbert, built off of the ideas and experiences of Europe, however not as a direct copy. America's position as a new nation allowed it to be selective in adopting European ideas. Gilbert argues that the American Revolution was solely against the British government, not from the English political ideas (19). This is critical in understanding the formation of American foreign policy. It is largely from the ideas of the English Wing parties foreign policy that early American writers formed their own, the primary goal of which was securing the preservation of peace, the presupposition of flourishing trade. These ideas leaked into America from the developed exchange of people and literature between England and America, and constitute the bases of Thomas Paine’s tract, Common Sense, which had a massive impact on foreign policy in America according to Gilbert.
A prevalent theme throughout this book is that of idealism vs realism. The Enlightenment brought about an influx of new, exciting ideas to the American colonies, resulting in many new thoughts about foreign policy by a people who had previously not had experience in the subject. We see over the course of the book these new ideals, especially the American idea that power did not always mean right, clash with the realism and experience of the old order.
The book's chronological layout is suitable, as with each chapter we follow the development of American foreign policy and the many obstacles it must overcome. Gilbert uses a variety of sources while constructing this piece, including many books and articles written by secondary scholars; he also includes The Farewell Address in the appendix for the reader's use. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the topic, as well as gives us extensive background information to the American assumptions preceding the adoption of foreign policy. Gilbert describes how Americans, due to the influence of the Enlightenment, expected a departure in traditional international relations, with a focus on creating a new and better world (17). The next chapter dives into English foreign policy and its important effects on American ideas. Gilbert also points out an easily overlooked parallel between English fears Hanover would come to dominate its foreign policy and American fears the English would do the same.
In chapter three of this book, we see the culmination of all these ideas in the Model Treaty of 1776. Meant to serve as a guide as America began a venture into the realm of foreign policy, the treaty is clearly to focus entirely on the commercial aspects of international relations, while steering clear of any political or military connection with a foreign power. Gilbert describes America’s new approach to foreign policy as “the great experiment” to test out the new ideas of the Enlightenment against the old power dynamics of Europe. In the book’s fourth chapter, we see this “great experiment” played out. Gilbert describes how the new nation quickly found out the impracticality of their idealistic foreign policy. The Model Treaty would not be followed as a political alliance was formed with France, in what Gilbert describes as a failure to realize the principles the new republic had intended to uphold. It is here where a great shift in America’s development of foreign policy happens, when Alexander Hamilton becomes the voice of foreign policy in America. The fifth and final chapter of the book describes George Washington’s second term as president and the Farewell Address the book is named after and the presidents focus on bipartisanship in foreign policy. Gilbert finds that Hamilton had great influence over the foreign policy section of the address and transformed Washington’s draft into a political testament, common in Europe at the time, however this testament would alone succeed in having political significance according to Gilbert.
Overall To the Farewell Address gives us an extensive look into the formation of foreign policy in the early republic. The background information found in the first few chapters is much needed to the book's subject, as it really starts to make sense as the book's conclusion approaches. Gilbert roots out any misconception the reader may have, while tacitly crafting an easy-to-follow narrative, with each chapter building into the next. The book loses itself briefly in the middle with its discussion of European politics, however it pulls it back together and showcases its importance. Gilbert ends the book focusing on its main theme, that of realism vs idealism, and claims that it is when combined, that America has found success, an interesting thought for further study. This book is for anyone looking to further understand early American politics, ideas, and the process by which America first constructed its foreign policy.
American foreign policy was, according to Gilbert, built off of the ideas and experiences of Europe, however not as a direct copy. America's position as a new nation allowed it to be selective in adopting European ideas. Gilbert argues that the American Revolution was solely against the British government, not from the English political ideas (19). This is critical in understanding the formation of American foreign policy. It is largely from the ideas of the English Wing parties foreign policy that early American writers formed their own, the primary goal of which was securing the preservation of peace, the presupposition of flourishing trade. These ideas leaked into America from the developed exchange of people and literature between England and America, and constitute the bases of Thomas Paine’s tract, Common Sense, which had a massive impact on foreign policy in America according to Gilbert.
A prevalent theme throughout this book is that of idealism vs realism. The Enlightenment brought about an influx of new, exciting ideas to the American colonies, resulting in many new thoughts about foreign policy by a people who had previously not had experience in the subject. We see over the course of the book these new ideals, especially the American idea that power did not always mean right, clash with the realism and experience of the old order.
The book's chronological layout is suitable, as with each chapter we follow the development of American foreign policy and the many obstacles it must overcome. Gilbert uses a variety of sources while constructing this piece, including many books and articles written by secondary scholars; he also includes The Farewell Address in the appendix for the reader's use. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the topic, as well as gives us extensive background information to the American assumptions preceding the adoption of foreign policy. Gilbert describes how Americans, due to the influence of the Enlightenment, expected a departure in traditional international relations, with a focus on creating a new and better world (17). The next chapter dives into English foreign policy and its important effects on American ideas. Gilbert also points out an easily overlooked parallel between English fears Hanover would come to dominate its foreign policy and American fears the English would do the same.
In chapter three of this book, we see the culmination of all these ideas in the Model Treaty of 1776. Meant to serve as a guide as America began a venture into the realm of foreign policy, the treaty is clearly to focus entirely on the commercial aspects of international relations, while steering clear of any political or military connection with a foreign power. Gilbert describes America’s new approach to foreign policy as “the great experiment” to test out the new ideas of the Enlightenment against the old power dynamics of Europe. In the book’s fourth chapter, we see this “great experiment” played out. Gilbert describes how the new nation quickly found out the impracticality of their idealistic foreign policy. The Model Treaty would not be followed as a political alliance was formed with France, in what Gilbert describes as a failure to realize the principles the new republic had intended to uphold. It is here where a great shift in America’s development of foreign policy happens, when Alexander Hamilton becomes the voice of foreign policy in America. The fifth and final chapter of the book describes George Washington’s second term as president and the Farewell Address the book is named after and the presidents focus on bipartisanship in foreign policy. Gilbert finds that Hamilton had great influence over the foreign policy section of the address and transformed Washington’s draft into a political testament, common in Europe at the time, however this testament would alone succeed in having political significance according to Gilbert.
Overall To the Farewell Address gives us an extensive look into the formation of foreign policy in the early republic. The background information found in the first few chapters is much needed to the book's subject, as it really starts to make sense as the book's conclusion approaches. Gilbert roots out any misconception the reader may have, while tacitly crafting an easy-to-follow narrative, with each chapter building into the next. The book loses itself briefly in the middle with its discussion of European politics, however it pulls it back together and showcases its importance. Gilbert ends the book focusing on its main theme, that of realism vs idealism, and claims that it is when combined, that America has found success, an interesting thought for further study. This book is for anyone looking to further understand early American politics, ideas, and the process by which America first constructed its foreign policy.
September 8, 2016
I picked this up on a whim at a used book store, and I am so glad I did! It's a concise outline of European and American policy, and how Washington arrived at his concept of foreign policy at the end of his term as president. I now feel like I have a firm grasp on why we were so attached to isolationism at the outset of our government.
July 28, 2015
maybe with professors input I will get a better viewpoint next time
September 18, 2016
I thought this book did a great job at setting the Farewell Address within the context of broader American, British, and European trends in foreign policy.
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