1796 State of the Union Address

Speech by US president Washington

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1796 State of the Union Address
Date	December 7, 1796
Venue	Hall of the House of Representatives, Congress Hall
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type	State of the Union Address
Participants	George Washington
Previous	1795 State of the Union Address
Next	1797 State of the Union Address

The 1796 State of the Union Address was given by George Washington, the first president of the United States, on Wednesday, December 7, 1796. It was given in Congress Hall, Philadelphia. He gave it directly to Congress. He began with, "In recurring to the internal situation of our country since I had last the pleasure to address you, I find ample reason for a renewed expression of that gratitude to the Ruler of the Universe which a continued series of prosperity has so often and so justly called forth." He ended with, "God's providential care may still be extended to the United States, that the virtue and happiness of the people may be preserved, and that the Government which they have instituted for the protection of their liberties may be perpetual."

The President also noted negotiations with the Creek Nation regarding purchase of land, which had stalled at that time. The President also recommended the establishment of an official military academy noting that a nation should "never be without an adequate stock of military knowledge for emergencies".

References

^ "Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
"State of the Union Address: George Washington (December 7, 1796) | Infoplease.com". infoplease.com. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
"Eighth Annual Address to Congress | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-26.

Preceded by1795 State of the Union Address

State of the Union addresses
1796

Succeeded by1797 State of the Union Address

State of the Union (list)

Washington

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Madison

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J. Q. Adams

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1849

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Harding

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1964 (War on poverty) 1965
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Legend: Address to Joint Session
Written message
Written message with national radio address
* Split into multiple parts
Included a detailed written supplement
Not officially a "State of the Union"
Presidents William Henry Harrison (1841) and James Garfield (1881) died in office before delivering a State of the Union

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