Prayer, a U.S. Staple

1775 – The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer1 (NDP).

1873 – Abraham Lincoln called for an NDP.

1952 – Congress established an annual NDP, which President Truman signed into law.

1988 – That law was amended to designate the first Thursday in May as the annual NDP.

1789-2022 – Presidents made 151 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting, thanksgiving.

1952-2022 there were 74 Presidential Proclamations for an NDP. 1952 and following, every President has signed an NDP proclamation.

• 35 of the 45 U.S. Presidents signed proclamations for NDP.
• Three of the Presidents that did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office.
• Two Presidents not included in the count – William Howard Taft and Warren Gamaliel Harding – signed Proclamations for Thanksgiving and Prayer.
• Since 1775 and counting, 1,526 state and federal calls for national prayer are recorded.

May 24, 1774, Thomas Jefferson drafted a Resolution for a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer to be observed as the British blockaded Boston Harbor. Robert Carter Nicholas introduced the Resolution in the Virginia House of Burgesses, and, with support of Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and George Mason, it passed unanimously.

Read more of America’s amazing legacy of prayer here.