Primary sourceLetter8 May 1796
To Alexander Hamilton, 8 May 1796
George Washington · 8 May 1796
A letter from President George Washington to Alexander Hamilton discussing drafting help, written during the period leading up to his Farewell Address.
Washington wrote this letter to Hamilton, key evidence in understanding how his Farewell Address was drafted.
About this source
What it is
A letter written by George Washington to Alexander Hamilton on 8 May 1796, from Philadelphia, discussing various political and diplomatic matters, including correspondence related to Gouverneur Morris and foreign affairs.
Why it matters
This letter is important to historians studying the authorship of Washington's Farewell Address, since Hamilton later helped draft that famous document. It shows the close working relationship between Washington and Hamilton, two of the most influential Founders, as Washington prepared to leave office.
Look closer
- What does the letter reveal about how much Washington relied on advisors like Hamilton?
- Why might letters like this matter for figuring out who really wrote famous documents?
- What foreign policy concerns appear in this letter, and why were they urgent at the time?
This letter 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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