When was thanksgiving first celebrated nationally

Paul's Chapel in New York City , and by donating beer and food to imprisoned debtors in the city. The Thanksgiving Proclamation, however, did not establish a permanent federal holiday. Washington issued another proclamation in February to recognize the defeat of a taxation rebellion in Pennsylvania. Later presidents, including John Adams and James Madison , declared days of thanksgiving.

But it was not until the Civil War of the s that President Lincoln initiated a regular observance of Thanksgiving in the United States. Bibliography: Ferling, John. New York: Bloomsbury Press, Harris, Matthew and Thomas Kidd.

Oxford University Press, Podcast Mount Vernon Everywhere! Byron, Ph. History Resources. Excerpt It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.

Questions for Discussion Read the introduction and excerpt, and examine the entire text and the engraving. Then apply your knowledge of American history to answer the following questions: What reason did President Lincoln provide to explain his decision to formalize the observance of a day of Thanksgiving?

Who did President Lincoln suggest should be remembered during the observance of Thanksgiving? Concerned that the shortened Christmas shopping season might dampen the economic recovery, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a Presidential Proclamation moving Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of November. As a result of the proclamation, 32 states issued similar proclamations while 16 states refused to accept the change and proclaimed Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday in November.

For two years two days were celebrated as Thanksgiving - the President and part of the nation celebrated it on the second to last Thursday in November, while the rest of the country celebrated it the following week. To end the confusion, Congress decided to set a fixed-date for the holiday. On October 6, , the House passed a joint resolution declaring the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day.