George Washington (1732–1799), the military hero of the Revolutionary War and nonpartisan "father" of the country, is considered by many to have been a great president. Few, however, are aware of the accomplishments upon which this opinion rests. During his presidency (1789–1797) the United States established its financial credit at home and abroad, removed British troops from the Northwest, managed to halt Spanish encroachments in the Southwest, gained transit rights on the Mississippi River, put down the quite serious Whiskey Rebellion, clearly affirmed the primacy of the president in foreign affairs, solidified the prestige of the presidency, and added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

Perhaps his greatest achievement was his success in keeping the United States out of the European wars of the 1790s. The tumultuous events of the French Revolution and the ensuing European war generated tremendous excitement in the United States. Despite pressure from individuals and groups sympathetic to the different European positions, Washington realized how important it was for the young nation to remain at peace. His position regarding foreign entanglements was clearly presented in his farewell address, an excerpt from which appears below, in which he warns the country against entering into foreign alliances inspired by the motives of political factions.

Washington urged Americans to avoid both "inveterate antipathies" and "passionate attachments" to any foreign nation. This request for isolationism was a natural outgrowth of his desire for a national politics of unity that transcended petty disputes. Before World War II, Washington’s advice to "steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world" made good sense to most Americans. Why did this attitude change after World War II? Why did Washington view foreign influence as such a threat to republican government? What two forms of relationships with other nations should the United States avoid? What are the possible consequences of these two types of relationships? What form of relationship with foreign countries does he advocate? How should this manifest itself?