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.
Read Thanksgiving proclamations by the
Presidents of America after Civil War and get an idea on
Thanksgiving celebrations since Lincoln.