Properly Directed Thankfulness – George Washington and the Foundations of a New Nation…

November 25, 2025 by  
Email This Post Email This Post | Print This Post Print This Post

On October 3, 1789, just months into his presidency, George Washington issued the very first official presidential proclamation. Fittingly, his choice of subject set the tone for a new nation: a call for a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. In it, Washington urged the people of the United States to acknowledge “with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” This was more than a holiday declaration—it was a reminder that gratitude, humility, and faith would form part of the nation’s foundation.

Below is the complete text of Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation as it appeared on the front page of the Gazette of the United States on October 7, 1789:

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy...

Filed under: Collecting Newspapers, Food for Thought, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, Noteworthy Issues, The 1500's - 1700's, The 1700's, The Collectible Community, The Rare Newspapers Community
Tagged: , , ,

Comments

Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!