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.
- 1782 Proclamation about the Lord’s Day declared by Pennsylvania President John Dickinson
This proclamation calls for repentance.
- 1789 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting declared by Connecticut Governor Samuel Huntington
Samuel Huntington was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.
- 1775 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by the city council of Watertown
- 1777 Proclamation for America to Seek God in a Time of War by the U.S. Congress
- 1777 Thanksgiving Proclamation by the Continental Congress
- 1778 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Hampshire) by new Hampshire President Meshech Weare
- 1779 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Virginia) by Governor Thomas Jefferson
- 1779 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Pennsylvania) by Pennsylvania President Joseph Reed
- 1780 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor John Hancock
- 1781 Thanksgiving Proclamation by President of the Continental Congress Thomas McKean
- 1781 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor John Hancock
- 1782 Pennsylvania Proclamation for the Sabbath Day by Governor John Dickinson
- 1782 Thanksgiving Proclamation by President of the Continental Congress John Hanson
- 1784 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor John Hancock
- 1788 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Connecticut) by Governor Samuel Huntington
- 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President George Washington
- 1791 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor John Hancock
- 1791 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Jersey) by Governor William Paterson
- 1792 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor John Hancock
- 1793 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Hampshire) by Governor Josiah Bartlett
- 1793 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Pennsylvania) by Governor Thomas Mifflin
- 1794 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Samuel Adams
- 1795 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President George Washington
- 1795 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Samuel Adams
- 1796 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Samuel Adams
- 1797 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Increase Sumner
- 1800 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Caleb Strong
- 1805 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Hampshire) by Governor John Langdon
- 1806 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Rhode Island) by Lieutenant Governor Isaac Wilbour
- 1811 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Elbridge Gerry
- 1813 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Massachusetts) by Governor Caleb Strong
- 1813 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Jersey) by Governor Aaron Ogden
- 1822 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Hampshire) by Governor Samuel Bell
- 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
- 1866 Thanksgiving Proclamation (Maine) by Governor Samuel Cony
- 1871 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant
- 1887 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President Grover Cleveland
- 1899 Thanksgiving Proclamation (New Hampshire) by Governor Frank West Rollins
- 1909 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President William Howard Taft
- 1933 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- 1944 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- 1945 Victory in Europe Prayer Proclamation by U.S. President Harry Truman
- 1989 Thanksgiving Proclamation by U.S. President George Bush