The History of Thanksgiving Day part 2

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit with 20 office men. the Wampanoag chief Massasoit had caught 5 deer to be given to Pilgrims. In December 18^th, 1777, Washington had a national day of Thanksgiving to commemorate the British Army, Toga. In the north, they had a ThanksGiving day which was “ due thanks we give and are grateful for every heaping plateful. Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 to mark the end of a long drought that had threatened the year’s harvest and prompted Governor Bradford to call for a religious fast. Days of fasting and thanksgiving on an annual or occasional basis became common practice in other New England settlements as well. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies.

The Thanksgiving day as we know now is the result of the effort of Sarah Josepha Hale. She was the American first female magazine editor, and author of females nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. For 36 years, she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians. Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” He scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November, and it was celebrated on that day every year until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression.

During the civil war, the Thanksgiving was “Awaken in American hearts the love of home and country, of Thankfulness to God, and peace between brethen. Sarah Josepha Hale wrote the letter to the government. A few days after receiving the letter, on October 3^rd, 1863, Abraham Lincoln was declaring  the last Thursday of November to be the Thanksgiving day. In 1924, there was a parade that was held by a Macy’s department store which rode in the street of New York and ended at the store.

            There was a congress in 1941, and it was the Thanksgiving day is made a legal national holiday and moved from the last Thursday in November to the 4^th, so the Thanksgiving day is on the 22^th of November. It also to extend the Christmas shopping seasons. Now, the Thanksgiving day is all about family. It changes from archery and arms to football and parades. The Thanksgiving day is a welcome day of rest to spend with families in recognation and appreciation for all of blessing for which we are thank for.

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies. 

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving