A Yankee Doodle Thanksgiving

Origins of the Thanksgiving Celebration

Although the origins of Thanksgiving in America date back before the 18th century, it was His Excellency, President George Washington, who issued the first U.S. proclamation calling on all Americans to give thanks to God on a specific date. Americans generally believe that Thanksgiving first took place at Plymouth Colony in 1621. The Puritan settlers of Plymouth, also known as Pilgrims, held the feast after their first successful harvest as a way to thank God for their blessings. Nearby Native Americans were invited to join in the feast. However, this did not become an annual event. Instead, the colonies held days of thanksgiving at different times of the year and without a fixed theme.

Plymouth Thanksgiving

By the time of the American Revolution, days of fasting and thanksgiving became political events. Most Americans saw liberty as a gift from God. Days of fasting or thanksgiving declared by the states promoted unity and strengthened commitment to the Glorious Cause. During the American War for Independence, state assemblies set aside days of prayer to honor specific military victories. 

In 1777, the impressive victory over the British at Saratoga, New York, was a turning point. Instead of state legislatures celebrating it locally, the Continental Congress proposed establishing a national day to honor that decisive victory. Commander-in-Chief George Washington agreed and declared December 18, 1777, as the first national Thanksgiving Day. The Continental Congress supported similar proclamations until 1784.

British surrender at Saratoga spurred a
December 1777 Thanksgiving proclamation

Boudinot's Resolution

On September 25, 1789, New Jersey's Elias Boudinot, a dedicated Presbyterian, made a motion in the United States House of Representatives for a resolution that stated: “That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States, to request that he would 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 Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” 

The purpose this time was to thank the Almighty for the new constitution and the new form of government—created with as much sweat and tears as independence itself. The founders and members of the new government made no distinction between the blessings of independence and the new republic and God's grace. To them, the former stemmed from the latter. This is a reminder we should keep in mind each Thanksgiving.

Elias Boudinot

President Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

New York, 3 October 1789

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Washington issued the nation's first
Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “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.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington