Primary sourceSpeech8 December 1790
Second State of the Union Address
George Washington · 8 December 1790
Washington's 1790 speech to Congress reporting on the nation's affairs, delivered as president.
This is Washington's own speech to Congress, delivered in his role as the first U.S. president.
About this source
What it is
This is a speech George Washington delivered to Congress on 8 December 1790 as part of his duties as the first U.S. president. In it he discusses the country's economy, public credit, and finances.
Why it matters
The address shows Washington establishing the practice of presidents reporting to Congress, a tradition that continues today. It reveals his concern with national credit and commerce in the young republic's early years.
Look closer
- What does Washington highlight as signs of the nation's success?
- Why might a new president want to reassure Congress about the economy?
- What does the formal, careful language tell you about how Washington saw his role?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of George Washington on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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