Thanksgiving Proclamations by Presidents of America

Abraham Lincoln issued Thanksgiving Proclamation after a gap of several years in 1862. He made an appeal to people to thank God for the victory of the United States forces in ' suppressing an internal rebellion, and at the same time to avert from our country the dangers of foreign intervention and invasion.' Next year, Lincoln mentioned the sacrifice of 'life, limb, health, and liberty, incurred by brave, loyal, and patriotic citizens' for these victories and to pray for the sorrowful and bereaved families of the victims of this 'domestic affliction in every part of the country.' His second Thanksgiving proclamation of 1863 was the actual continuation of previous annual Thanksgiving Proclamations for general blessings of God throughout the year.

This Thanksgiving Proclamation is more optimistic than Lincoln's previous proclamations that reflect the solemn mood of the nation during Civil War. Andrew Johnson made the Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1865. He announced that the 'first Thursday of December' has been set apart as 'a day of national thanksgiving to the Creator of the Universe'. In 1866 to 1868, last Thursday of November was set apart 'as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God'. In 1869, Ulysses S. Grant was the President of the United States and appointed 'Thursday, the 18th day of November next, be observed as a day of thanksgiving and of praise and of prayer to almighty God, the creator and the ruler of the universe'. He shifted back to last Thursday of November in 1870.

In 1871, U. S. Grant declared Thanksgiving as 'an occasion for sympathy with the sufferers, of resignation on their part to the will of the Most High, and of rejoicing to the many who have been more favored'; in 1872 to thank the merciful God for 'prosperity in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce' and 'His kindness and bounty'; in 1873, he mentioned abundant harvests, over all good health of the public, tranquility at home and peace with other nations in his Thanksgiving Proclamation; in 1874 for 'the cultivation of kindly feelings toward each other'; and thanked 'Almighty God for the ceaseless and distinguished benefits bestowed upon us as a nation' in 1875. In 1876, he mentioned that the United States of America is 'offering an asylum to the people of every race.'

Rutherford B. Hayes was the President of the United States in 1877 and he mentioned the 'strength and peace and greatness' of America as a nation in his Thanksgiving Proclamation. R. B. Hayes reiterates the 'recurrence of that season at which it is the habit of our people to make devout and public confession of their constant dependence upon the divine favor' in 1878 and blessings of the Almighty for 'the material prosperity enjoyed by our whole country been more conspicuous, more manifold, or more universal' in his Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1879. We have also brought you the latest Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations of the 21st century that gives a wonderful idea about the current political scenario of America and the world.