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Proclamations

The American practice of calling days of fasting or thanksgiving was so strong that by 1815, civil governments had issued at least 1,400 official prayer proclamations. Thousands more have been issued since that time—a tradition that now spans more than four centuries of the American Story, and one that continues to the present day as a 1952 federal law requires that every president issue a prayer proclamation on the National Day of Prayer, commemorated the first Thursday of every May, and observed by every president since Dwight D.  Eisenhower.

Proclamations for Days of Fasting and Prayer

During times of crisis, civil authorities would proclaim days of fasting and prayer to seek God’s help.

  • 1777 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Bay Colony
    This proclamation asks colonists to pray for the newly formed government and the war effort.
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  • 1782 Proclamation about the Lord’s Day declared by Pennsylvania President John Dickinson
    This proclamation calls for repentance.
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  • 1789 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Connecticut Governor Samuel Huntington
    Samuel Huntington was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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  • 1793 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor John Hancock
    This proclamation recognizes the practice of Americans regularly calling on God for assistance.
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  • 1795 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor Samuel Adams
    This proclamation calls for prayer for the federal and state governments, peace with Native Americans and the French Republic.
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  • 1797 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Connecticut Governor Oliver Wolcott
    This proclamation calls for prayer for America, the President,  and negotiations with the French Republic.
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  • 1798 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner
    Among other things, this proclamation calls for prayer for universities  “that the rising generation may be properly instructed in every branch of useful learning, and impressed with the principles of true religion and virtue.”
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  • 1798 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by U.S. President John Adams
    This proclamation calls for prayer for God’s protection and a protection of America’s civil and religious liberties.
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  • 1799 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by U.S. President John Adams (broadside version)
    This proclamation recognizes that America is “still held in jeopardy by the hostile designs and insidious acts of a foreign nation.”
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  • 1804 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by New Hampshire Governor John Taylor Gilman
    This proclamation calls for a day of repentance, asking God ” above all, that a spirit of pure and undefiled religion may universally prevail.”
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  • 1807 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull
    This proclamation calls for a day or repentance and prayer “for his Divine Assistance and the Influences of His Holy Spirit.”
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  • 1810 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore
    This proclamation asks God to “advance all means used for propagating true Religion, and promote the pious purposes of those who endeavor to disseminate a Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures- that all may learn his Will and obey His Commandments.”
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  • 1812 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by U.S. President James Madison
    This proclamation was a response to a joint resolution of Congress.
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  • 1815 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by U.S. President James Madison
    This proclamation was due to “the present time of public calamity and war” and was a response to a joint resolution of Congress.
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  • 1860 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by U.S. President James Buchanan
    This proclamation is in response to requests made by “patriotic associations and citizens.”
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  • 1863 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor John Andrew and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
    This proclamation calls for Americans to “confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
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  • 1870 Proclamation for a Day of  Fasting declared by Massachusetts Governor William Claflin
    This proclamation recognizes the long-standing tradition of calling on God in a time of need.

Proclamations for Days of Thanksgiving

When God answered prayers, civic leaders would proclaim days of prayer and thanksgiving to express their gratitude to Him.