"George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1795" was a formal declaration calling upon the people of the United States to set aside a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. Issued on January 1, 1795, during his second term as president, Washington designated Thursday, February 19, 1795, as a national day to give thanks for the nation’s peace, prosperity, and the blessings of liberty. In the proclamation, Washington expressed gratitude for the continued protection and favor of Providence, the success of the American experiment in self-government, and the preservation of the country’s independence. He also urged citizens to practice humility, promote good works, and strengthen moral and civic virtue. Like his earlier Thanksgiving proclamation of 1789, this document reflects Washington’s belief that gratitude to God and moral reflection were essential to the health of the young republic.
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