Final answer:
George Washington warned against the dangers of political parties and stressed the importance of national unity and non-involvement in permanent foreign alliances in his farewell address, setting a precedent for regular rotation of public officials.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington warned the nation about the potential mischiefs of political parties and the dangers of one party gaining dominance over the other. In his farewell address, he emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity and denounced partisanship. He advocated for friendly trade relations and recommended a policy of non-involvement in permanent alliances with foreign countries, which he believed could entangle the fledgling nation in unnecessary conflicts.
Despite his warnings, political differences led to the creation of two dominant factions—the Federalists and the Republicans—by the end of his first term. Washington set a precedent for the regular rotation of public officials to help quell the growing partisan divide by choosing not to seek a third term in office.