How did Washington feel about loyalty to state and local areas compared to loyalty to the nation?

George Washington believed that loyalty to the nation should take precedence over loyalty to individual states or local areas. In his Farewell Address, he warned against the divisive nature of regionalism and partisanship, emphasizing the importance of national unity for the country's survival and prosperity. Washington feared that strong local loyalties could undermine the collective strength and governance of the nation as a whole. He advocated for a sense of national identity that transcended local affiliations.