How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday in the united States?

Answer 1

It is on a Thursday in November in a year a long time ago.

This question has a lot of history behind it - allow me to tersely recapitulate such: On 11/23/39, FDR carved the the turkey at the annual Thanksgiving dinner in Georgia. However, up until this date, most Americans had celebrated Thanksgiving on 11/30.

During FDR's administration, Thanksgiving was not a fixed Holiday - it was up to the present President to declare what date Thanksgiving would be held that year in November.

When Lincoln had been President, he observed Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November and declared it a national holiday in 1863.

However, during the Great depression, FDR found it difficult to observe Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November.

During the great depression, FDR was approached to make Thanksgiving held on the 4th Thursday of November to allow more time for people to shop for Christmas. In 1939, FDR moved the Holiday one week up.

Answer 2

It was a holiday when the pilgrims and the Indians had a big harvest. The Indians helped the pilgrims a lot therefore we celebrate there kindness with a holiday to give them thanks. which puts the "thanks" in Thanksgiving

Answer 3

Thanksgiving is an extension of the European custom of celebrating a successful harvest. This was mirrored by several traditions in North America.

In Canada, Thanksgiving dates to 1578 when explorer Martin Frobisher celebrated homecoming after a perilous Northwest voyage. The French Canadians celebrated successful harvests, as in 1606 when explorer Samuel Champlain established the Order of Good Cheer.

In the US, Thanksgiving can be variously dated from 1621 by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, or harvest feasts of Virginia settlers, or the even earlier Spanish celebrations in their Florida colony.

As a US national holiday, Thanksgiving first became an annual tradition in 1863.

George Washington had proclaimed Thanksgiving celebrations in 1789 and 1795, John Adams in 1798 and 1799, and James Madison in 1814 after the War of 1812. But the observation lapsed, although it was celebrated in states such as New York. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, 1863. Since that time, Presidents have continued to make such proclamations. The establishment of the fourth Thursday in November as the official holiday came in response to a change by President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1939 and 1941, which led to a Congressional act setting the date beginning in 1942.

Answer 4

So you can give thanks for everything that you have, prosperity and freedom.

Answer 5

To give god thanks for guiding us unto a new world

Answer 6

because Pilgrim fest on that day