Proclamation on the Death of President Garfield

What it is

This is a presidential proclamation issued in 1881 by Chester A. Arthur, who succeeded James A. Garfield as president. It announces a national day of mourning for Garfield's death and calls on Americans to gather in worship.

Why it matters

The document marks the formal transfer of presidential power following Garfield's assassination. Its solemn religious language shows how the nation's leadership publicly processed the sudden loss of an elected president, and it demonstrates the constitutional continuity of government even after a violent death.

Look closer

• Why might a new president choose such religious language in an official proclamation?
• What does this document tell us about how Americans were expected to respond to Garfield's death?
• What does the proclamation leave out about the actual circumstances of the assassination?