Final answer:
President George Washington warned against the dangers of political parties in his Farewell Address to preserve national unity and prevent the division of the nation into partisan factions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why President Washington Warned Against Political Parties
President George Washington cautioned against the mischiefs of political parties in his Farewell Address as he believed their existence would foster division and hamper national unity. His concern was that political parties would lead to a fracturing of the nation into competing factions, which could weaken the country's cohesion. Washington's experiences during his second term, where partisan rancor was rampant, reinforced his belief that political factions were detrimental to the republic's well-being. This discord was exemplified by the sharp disagreements between the emerging Federalist and Republican factions over domestic and foreign policy, leading to increased polarization. Washington, together with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, crafted a farewell address that called for the American people to maintain cohesion and prevent the rise of permanent political factions and alliances, which they viewed as a threat to the national unity and longevity of the fledgling nation.