Final answer:
George Washington's warnings about the dangers of political parties and permanent foreign alliances in his Farewell Address have been both upheld and challenged through American history. The rise of the two-party system and varying levels of international engagement illustrate the complexity of adhering to these founding ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington, in his Farewell Address, articulated a clear detestation of the mischiefs of political parties and the potential dangers they posed to national unity. In his view, parties could lead to factionalism and threaten the governance of the nation. Despite his warnings, by the end of his first term, the American political landscape saw the rise of Federalists and Republicans, marking the nascent stages of the two-party system. Washington's concerns about political parties have, arguably, manifested in modern America through increased polarization and partisanship.
Concerning foreign alliances, Washington urged for neutrality, advocating that the young nation avoid permanent foreign entanglements that could compromise its sovereignty. This idea influenced the U.S. foreign policy for years, although the dynamics of global politics have since led America into various alliances and conflicts.
When assessing how well America upholds the ideals and principles of its founding, the strength of the claim lies in recognizing both the adherence and deviations from Washington's original vision—a vision that both outlined the perils of partisanship and the importance of cautious foreign engagements. The limitations of such a claim involve understanding the complexities of contemporary international relations and the inevitability of political factions within a democratic society.