The History of Thanksgiving Day in America
The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe, 1914. Pilgrim Hall Museum.
The First Thanksgiving in America
The Protestant Reformation of the 1500s had given rise to a devout group of Christians in England in the 1600s who called for reform of the Church of England. Though the church implemented some reforms during this time, some Christians did not believe its reforms went far enough. The “Puritans,” as they were called, wanted to purify the church from within, to expel what they saw as heresy and corruption in doctrine and worship. One remnant of this group believed the church was too corrupt to be restored, and they separated from it altogether. Because these “Separatists” did not want to conform to the official state church, their movement was outlawed. To escape persecution, they set sail for America. They became known as the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims’ migration across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620 proved to be an historic move.
The Pilgrims’ primary reason for coming to America was religious freedom. They wanted freedom to believe and worship peacefully without harassment or persecution. They sought freedom in America to set up their own church and community to live as they chose. The Pilgrims also hoped, in the process, to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When the Pilgrims arrived in America, landing at Plymouth in 1620, they faced overwhelming difficulties and challenges. They lacked food, clothing, supplies, and shelter. They also experienced a harsh winter climate and poor soil, which made hunting and farming very difficult. As such, the Pilgrim`s suffered from starvation, sickness, and death. Half of them died during that first year.
Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth by N. Currier, 1820.
During this difficult time, however, the Pilgrims became friends with some friendly Native Americans who showed them how to plant corn. In the spring, the Pilgrims farmed their land and planted many crops. The following autumn, they reaped a plentiful harvest.
In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims held three days of Thanksgiving to God for His provision and blessings. They celebrated with a feast and invited their Native American friends to join them in the celebration. Pilgrim Edward Winslow described this event in his Journal of the Pilgrims: “God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn and good barley…. Our harvest being brought in, our governor sent four men on fowling, so that we might in special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors…. And although it is not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.” The Pilgrims thus overcame famine, and Plymouth Colony survived.
Throughout their severe trials, the Pilgrims’ faith comforted, encouraged, and strengthened them to press on and to trust in God’s deliverance and provision. Through their faith and trust in God, the Pilgrims persevered through adversity, gave thanks for God’s mercy and provision, and became key figures who laid the groundwork for a new life and nation for generations to come.
A Fragment of a Poem about New England
by William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony
(in The Mayflower Descendant)
Famine once we had–
But other things God gave us in full store,
As fish and ground nuts, to supply our strait,
That we might learn on providence to wait;
And know, by bread man lives not in his need,
But by each word that doth from God proceed.
But a while after plenty did come in,
From his hand only who doth pardon sin.
And all did flourish like the pleasant green,
Which in the joyful spring is to be seen.
Thanksgiving in the New Nation, the United States of America
During the American Revolution, after the Americans declared independence from Great Britain, the United States’ Continental Congress issued a Thanksgiving proclamation every year from 1777 to 1784 to beseech and thank God for His continued assistance and mercy for the new nation. When the revolution ended, Congress asked first President George Washington to recommend to the people of the United States “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging 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.”
In November of 1789, Washington issued the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation in the nation so the people might devote themselves to and thank God, and ask for forgiveness of sins: …
During the Civil War, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national annual holiday. His proclamation invited citizens to thank and praise God and to pray for the nation: …
Thanksgiving is now celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in November.
Historically, Thanksgiving Day is an invitation and opportunity for we the people of the United States to celebrate and pray, to consider and ponder in our hearts several things (which we might take for granted). It is an opportunity for Americans to thank God for our self-governing nation and just, constitutional government; our civil and religious freedoms; peace; and His provision in our lives. It is also a day on which Americans are exhorted to ask God for mercy and forgiveness of ours sins both personal and national. Further, it is a day on which Americans are called to pray for our nation and community, with consideration for the challenges and issues of our time, and to seek God’s will, honor, and glory in the nation and in the world.
Contributed by AHEF and Angela E. Kamrath.
This article and a reading quiz activity are available as a printable PDF handout in the member resources section on americanheritage.org. Simply sign up and login as a member (no cost), go to the resources page, and look under Miracle of America articles.
Sources for more information:
Kamrath, Angela E. The Miracle of America: The Influence of the Bible on the Founding History and Principles of the United States of America for a People of Every Belief. Second Edition. Houston, TX: American Heritage Education Foundation, 2014, 2015. Third edition (2020) is available!
Johnson, Caleb, ed. Mourt’s Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, 1622, by Edward Winslow and William Bradford. The Plymouth Colony Archive Project, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/mourt6.html (2007).
Related articles/videos:
1. Who were the Pilgrims? Why did they come to America?
2. Why the Pilgrims Identified with the Israelites
3. The Mayflower Compact: The Pilgrims’ First Self-Governing Act in America
4. The Pilgrims’ Mayflower Compact as a Covenant
5: The Pilgrims & Private Property: What the Pilgrims Might Have Thought About Communism & Socialism
6. Three P’s That Led to Freedom in the West: Printing Press, Protestant Reformation, & Pilgrims
Poster: Declaration of Independence
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1. Elementary Activity: America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty (Elementary Edition), “The History of Thanksgiving Day,” p. 113-119. ES. Elementary lesson available in member resources at americanheritage.org.
2. Elementary/Middle/High Activity: The Miracle of America High School Teacher Course Guide, Unit 2, Part 3, Activity 7: The History of Thanksgiving Day in America (revised), p. 93, 318-319. ES-HS.
The History of Thanksgiving Day in America (revised)….
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To download this whole unit, sign up as an AHEF member (no cost) to access the “resources” page on americanheritage.org. To order the printed binder format of the course guide with all the units, go to the AHEF bookstore.
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