Thanksgiving in the United States

🍂 Thanksgiving in the United States

Watch the lesson video, study the expanded history and vocabulary, read poems and religious context, and complete the practice activities and quizzes. 

 
 

🎥 Lesson Video

⭐ Key Ideas — Quick overview 

  • Thanksgiving has deep roots in Indigenous harvest traditions.
  • Early European thanksgiving events occurred in multiple colonies before 1621.
  • The 1621 Plymouth harvest gathering involved Pilgrims and the Wampanoag and is a central narrative. 

  • Presidents (Washington, Lincoln) and Congress played key roles in creating a national holiday and setting its date.
  • Modern Thanksgiving blends food, family, volunteerism, parades, and reflection.

📚 Expanded History 

? to early 1600’s Later 1600s–1900’s
Indigenous Harvest Traditions
Long before European contact, Indigenous nations across North America observed seasonal cycles with ceremonies and communal feasts to give thanks for harvests, successful hunts, and survival through changing seasons. These ceremonies were place-based and varied widely by region and tribe.		 Local Observances
Colonies and towns proclaimed days of thanksgiving for local events—victories, harvests, and deliverances—often on different dates and with varying religious tones.
1565 — St. Augustine
Spanish settlers and the Timucua people held a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Augustine, Florida—an early European-Native event showing thanksgiving-like observances outside New England.		 1789 — Washington’s Proclamation
President George Washington issued a proclamation designating a day of public thanksgiving and prayer (November 26, 1789) to celebrate the new U.S. Constitution and national blessings.
1619 — Berkeley Hundred
English settlers in Virginia declared a day of thanksgiving in 1619 upon safely reaching their settlement, indicating that ‘thanksgiving’ celebrations occurred in several colonies		 1863 — Lincoln’s Proclamation
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be observed every November, emphasizing national healing and gratitude during a time of division.
1620 — Mayflower & Mayflower Compact
In 1620, 102 passengers sailed on the Mayflower to New England. They drafted the Mayflower Compact — a social contract for governance which later became an important symbol of self-government in colonial history.		 1830s–1900s — Cultural Changes
As the country grew, Thanksgiving traditions evolved. Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential editor and writer, campaigned for a fixed national Thanksgiving—her advocacy helped shape public support for a national holiday. By the late 19th century, Thanksgiving dinners and family-centered traditions became more common.
1621 — Plymouth Harvest Gathering
After a difficult first winter, the Pilgrims had a successful harvest in autumn 1621. They shared a multi-day harvest meal with members of the Wampanoag Nation. This event involved diplomacy, shared ceremony, and mutual aid; it is widely remembered but was one of several early gratitude observances.

1939–1941 — Roosevelt & Congress
In 1939 FDR moved Thanksgiving earlier to extend the holiday shopping season. The change was unpopular in many states; to resolve the confusion, Congress fixed Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941.

🔎 Additional Historical Notes

Sarah Josepha Hale
Sarah Josepha Hale (1788–1879), editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day for decades through editorials and letters to presidents. She is often credited as a major force behind the holiday’s national adoption.
Immigration & Urbanization
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, as immigrants arrived and cities grew, Thanksgiving evolved to include urban parades, public celebrations, and new foods that reflected a diverse America.
Modern Era
Today Thanksgiving includes family meals, travel, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football games, volunteerism, and the presidential turkey pardon. Discussions about history and inclusion continue among scholars and communities.

📆 Timeline

  • Before 1600s: Indigenous harvest festivals – Roots of thanksgiving practices
  • 1565: St. Augustine — Spanish & Timucua – Early European-Native thanksgiving
  • 1619: Berkeley Hundred (Virginia) – Early English thanksgiving – Early English thanksgiving
  • 1620-1621: Mayflower & Plymouth harvest gathering – Famous Pilgrim–Wampanoag feast
  • 1789: Washington proclaims a national day of thanksgiving – Early national recognition
  • 1863: Lincoln proclaims annual Thanksgiving – Established during Civil War
  • 1939: 1941: FDR moves date; Congress finalizes 4th Thursday – Modern legal date established
  • Today: Modern Thanksgiving traditions – Food, parades, volunteering, continued reflection

🗂 Vocabulary

harvest — the gathering of crops
gratitude — the feeling of being thankful
tradition — a cultural custom passed down
feast — a large celebratory meal
indigenous — native to a place
proclamation — an official public announcement
pilgrim — a traveler for religious reasons
Mayflower Compact — agreement for self-government (1620)
ally — friend or partner in alliance
gathering — a meeting of people

📜 Poems & Religious Aspects

Poem excerpt — J. G. Whittier
“Ah! On Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West…”

Read Poem – The Pumpkin

Short reading — Lydia Maria Child
“Over the river and through the wood — Now grandmother’s cap I spy!”

Read Poem – Thanksgiving Day

Religious context
Early proclamations by Washington and Lincoln used religious language—often thanking God for providence. For the Pilgrims, faith informed migration and community rituals. Modern practice varies: some families pray before meals; others keep secular traditions focused on gratitude and service.

🕊️ Religious Aspects of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in the United States has religious roots, but today it is celebrated by people of many different beliefs — and also by people with no religious beliefs. Here are the key religious aspects:

1. Indigenous Traditions of Gratitude

Long before Europeans arrived, many Indigenous nations practiced spiritual ceremonies of giving thanks for the harvest, the land, and seasonal cycles. These traditions were not Christian; they reflected the spiritual beliefs of each nation.

2. Pilgrims and Christian Thankfulness

The Pilgrims were English Protestants who believed in giving thanks to God for survival, harvest, and blessings. Their 1621 harvest celebration included prayers and expressions of gratitude to God.

3. Colonial “Days of Thanksgiving”

In the 1600s–1700s, many colonies declared religious days of fasting or prayer to thank God for protection, good harvests, or recovery from danger. These were Christian observances.

4. Washington’s 1789 Proclamation

George Washington’s first national Thanksgiving included a call to thank “the great Author of all the good we enjoy”, reflecting general Christian language.

5. Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving

Abraham Lincoln described Thanksgiving as a day to offer thanks to “our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” It continued the Christian tone but was meant for all Americans.

6. Modern Thanksgiving

Today, Thanksgiving is mostly a cultural holiday, but many families still:

  • say a prayer of thanks before eating
  • read a Bible verse
  • share expressions of gratitude

🍗 Food & Traditions — What people eat and why

Turkey
Turkey became the common centerpiece for Thanksgiving meals over the 19th century due to size, availability, and cost. By the 1800s it was being widely associated with the holiday.

Sides & Desserts
Classic sides include stuffing/dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green vegetables. Pumpkin pie and other desserts reflect colonial and later American baking traditions.

New traditions
Parades, football, volunteering, and the presidential turkey pardon are modern ritual elements that complement family meals and travel.

✍️ Practice Activities — Check your understanding

A. Listening & Short Answer

  1. What is one reason the Pilgrims left England?
  2. Name two things the Wampanoag taught the Pilgrims.
  3. Why did Lincoln establish Thanksgiving as an annual observance?
  4. In what year did Congress fix the Thanksgiving date?
Answer key — Listening & Short Answer
  • They left because they were persecuted for their religious beliefs (seeking religious freedom).
  • Examples: planting corn/maize, fishing, local food sources, hunting techniques.
  • To encourage unity and gratitude during the Civil War.
  • 1941.

B. Multiple Choice & True/False

  1.  Which event happened first?
    A. Lincoln’s proclamation
    B. The Plymouth harvest gathering
    C. Washington’s proclamation
  2. The Mayflower Compact was a document about self-government. (T/F)
Answer key
  1. Correct: B — The Plymouth harvest gathering (1621) happened before Washington’s proclamation (1789) and Lincoln’s (1863).
  2. True — The Mayflower Compact established a form of self-government among the settlers.
C. Fill-in-the-blanks

  1. The Native nation that helped the Pilgrims was the ________.
  2. The Mayflower Compact helped create rules for ________ in the new community.
  3. Congress fixed Thanksgiving as the ________ Thursday of November.
Answer key — Fill-in-the-blanks
  1. Wampanoag
  2. self-government / rules
  3. fourth
D. Timeline ordering (activity)

Order these items chronologically:
• 1621 — Plymouth gathering • 1863 — Lincoln proclamation • 1565 — St. Augustine • 1941 — Congress fixes the date

Answer key — Timeline ordering

Correct order: 1565 → 1621 → 1863 → 1941.

✍️ Writing & Reflection

Task A — Short paragraph
Write 6–8 sentences: “What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Include at least one historical fact from this lesson.”

Task B — Comparative sentence
Write two sentences comparing: “A modern Thanksgiving celebration” vs “The 1621 harvest gathering.” Use one comparative phrase (e.g., more / less / similar to).

Self-check: Ensure you included a historical fact and that your language is clear. Use the vocabulary list if needed.

✅ Final Self-Assessment Quiz

  1. List three key historical moments or figures related to Thanksgiving. (short answer)
  2. Explain in one sentence why Lincoln’s proclamation was significant.
  3. Give one example of how Thanksgiving traditions changed during industrialization and immigration.
Suggested answers — Final Quiz
  1. Possible answers: 1621 Plymouth feast (Pilgrims & Wampanoag); Washington’s 1789 proclamation; Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation; Roosevelt/1941 date decision; Sarah Josepha Hale’s campaign.
  2. Lincoln established Thanksgiving as an annual national observance to promote unity and gratitude during the Civil War.
  3. Example: Parades and public ceremonies grew in cities; diverse immigrant foods and regional recipes were added to Thanksgiving tables.

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🔚 Summary

  • Thanksgiving draws on deep Indigenous traditions and later colonial and national observances.
  • Key figures and moments include the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag, Sarah Josepha Hale, Washington, Lincoln, and the 1941 congressional decision.
  • Modern Thanksgiving blends food, family, service, public rituals, and historical reflection.