George Washington dedicated most of his adult life — as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, as President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and as the first President of the United States — to public service for the preservation of liberty, independence, republican government, and the Union. In what was then one of the rarest and most remarkable acts of human history, Washington voluntarily gave up the power with which the people had entrusted him not once, but twice, earning him a reputation as the “American Cincinnatus.” Near the end of Washington’s second term in office, as he announced his plan to return to life as a private citizen, he offered sage advice to “friends and fellow citizens” on what was necessary to preserve the great work of free self-government Americans had started.

Jefferson's Inaugural Address was a speech he gave when he was inaugurated as president. This was a huge deal because it was the first time the control of the government was changing parties (Federalist to Democratic-Republican). The election was a bitter one, with a great deal of smear campaigns and rumors. Also, the Democratic-Republican candidates for president ended up tied in the number of electoral votes they received. The House of Representatives had to choose the president and did so only on the 36th try! They finally choosing Jefferson over Aaron Burr. Jefferson made his thoughts on government in his inaugural address very clear.