Washington’s First Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation

On the day Congress approved the proposed Bill of Rights, just before the first session of the first Federal Congress–arguably the most productive legislative body in the history of the world–came to a close, they requested the president issue a Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Here, George Washington calls on all Americans to give thanks for “the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness... for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge.”

And he asks us to pray “to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations … to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best…”

As with the Declaration of Independence, this often-overlooked founding document set forth, a statement of purpose for the new republic. It would be composed of citizens who performed “our several and relative duties properly and punctually”; the government would be one of “wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed”; it would encourage “all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us)” to have “good government, peace, and concord”; the nation would “promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us”; and the United States would seek “a degree of temporal prosperity” for “all mankind.”

★ George Washington Manuscript Document Signed, October 3, 1789. ★ Gazette of the United States, first newspaper printing, Oct. 7, 1789. #27500