Thanksgiving History: George Washington, Sarah Josepha Hale, Abraham Lincoln

Thanksgiving is a 24-hour interval for a traditional menu, as well as I accept a vacation past times reprinting this annual column on the origins of the day:

The start presidential annunciation of Thanksgiving every bit a national vacation was issued past times George Washington on Oct 3, 1789. But it was a one-time event. Individual states (especially those inwards New England) continued to number Thanksgiving proclamations on diverse days inwards the decades to come. But it wasn't until 1863 when a magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale, after 15 years of letter-writing, prompted Abraham Lincoln inwards 1863 to designate the concluding Th inwards Nov every bit a national holiday--a pattern which as well as then continued into the future.

An original as well as thus hard-to-read version of George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation can last viewed through the Library of Congress website. The economist inwards me was intrigued to notice that simply about of the causes for giving of cheers included "the agency nosotros have got of acquiring as well as diffusing useful knowledge ... the encrease of scientific discipline with them as well as us—and to a greater extent than ofttimes than non to grant unto all Mankind such a grade of temporal prosperity every bit he lone knows to last best."

Also, the master Thankgiving annunciation was non without simply about argument as well as dissent inwards the House of Representatives, every bit an lawsuit of unwanted as well as inappropriate federal regime interventionism. As reported past times the Papers of George Washington website at the University of Virginia.

The House was non unanimous inwards its determination to turn over thanks. Aedanus Burke of South Carolina objected that he “did non similar this mimicking of European customs, where they made a mere mockery of thanksgivings.” Thomas Tudor Tucker “thought the House had no trouble concern to interfere inwards a affair which did non concern them. Why should the President straightaway the people to gain what, perhaps, they have got no hear to do? They may non last inclined to homecoming cheers for a Constitution until they have got experienced that it promotes their security as well as happiness. We gain non yet know but they may have got argue to last dissatisfied with the effects it has already produced; but whether this last so or not, it is a trouble concern with which Congress have got aught to do; it is a religious matter, and, every bit such, is proscribed to us. If a 24-hour interval of thanksgiving must accept place, allow it last done past times the authorization of the several States.”

Here's the transcript of George Washington's Thanksgiving annunciation from the National Archives.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

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

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to admit the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to last grateful for his benefits, as well as humbly to implore his protection as well as favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have got past times their articulation Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the the States a 24-hour interval of world thanksgiving as well as prayer to last observed past times acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially past times affording them an chance peaceably to constitute a shape of regime for their security as well as happiness.”

Now hence I gain recommend as well as assign Th the 26th 24-hour interval of Nov adjacent to last devoted past times the People of these States to the service of that dandy as well as glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the proficient that was, that is, or that volition be—That nosotros may as well as then all unite inwards rendering unto him our sincere as well as humble thanks—for his variety tending as well as protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal as well as manifold mercies, as well as the favorable interpositions of his Providence which nosotros experienced inwards the course of didactics as well as conclusion of the slow war—for the dandy grade of tranquillity, union, as well as plenty, which nosotros have got since enjoyed—for the peaceable as well as rational manner, inwards which nosotros have got been enabled to constitute constitutions of regime for our security as well as happiness, as well as specially the national One at nowadays lately instituted—for the civil as well as religious liberty with which nosotros are blessed; as well as the agency nosotros have got of acquiring as well as diffusing useful knowledge; as well as inwards full general for all the dandy as well as diverse favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

as well as besides that nosotros may as well as then unite inwards well-nigh humbly offering our prayers as well as supplications to the dandy Lord as well as Ruler of Nations as well as beseech him to pardon our national as well as other transgressions—to enable us all, whether inwards world or someone stations, to perform our several as well as relative duties properly as well as punctually—to homecoming our national regime a approving to all the people, past times constantly existence a Government of wise, just, as well as constitutional laws, discreetly as well as faithfully executed as well as obeyed—to protect as well as conduct all Sovereigns as well as Nations (especially such every bit have got shewn kindness unto us) as well as to bless them with proficient government, peace, as well as concord—To promote the knowledge as well as practise of truthful organized faith as well as virtue, as well as the encrease of scientific discipline with them as well as us—and to a greater extent than ofttimes than non to grant unto all Mankind such a grade of temporal prosperity every bit he lone knows to last best.

Given nether my mitt at the City of New-York the tertiary 24-hour interval of Oct inwards the twelvemonth of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

Sarah Josepha Hale was editor of a magazine start called Ladies' Magazine as well as after called Ladies' Book from 1828 to 1877. It was with the well-nigh widely-known as well as influential magazines for women of its time. Hale wrote to Abraham Lincoln on September 28, 1863, suggesting that he laid a national engagement for a Thankgiving holiday. From the Library of Congress, here's a PDF file of the Hale's actual alphabetic quality to Lincoln, along with a typed transcript for 21st-century eyes. Here are a few sentences from Hale's alphabetic quality to Lincoln:

"You may have got observed that, for simply about years past, in that location has been an increasing involvement felt inwards our solid reason to have got the Thanksgiving held on the same day, inwards all the States; it at nowadays needs National recognition as well as authoritive fixation, only, to travel permanently, an American custom as well as institution. ... For the concluding xv years I have got laid forth this thought inwards the "Lady's Book", as well as placed the papers earlier the Governors of all the States as well as Territories -- besides I have got sent these to our Ministers abroad, as well as our Missionaries to the pagan -- as well as commanders inwards the Navy. From the recipients I have got received, uniformly the well-nigh variety approval. ... But I let on in that location are obstacles non possible to last overcome without legislative assistance -- that each State should, past times statute, travel into obligatory on the Governor to appoint the concluding Th of November, annually, every bit Thanksgiving Day; -- or, every bit this way would require years to last realized, it has ocurred to me that a annunciation from the President of the the States would last the best, surest as well as well-nigh plumbing equipment method of National appointment. I have got written to my friend, Hon. Wm. H. Seward, as well as requested him to confer with President Lincoln on this dependent area ..."

William Seward was Lincoln's Secretary of State. In a remarkable lawsuit of rapid regime decision-making, Lincoln responded to Hale's September 28 alphabetic quality past times issuing a annunciation on Oct 3. It seems probable that Seward genuinely wrote the proclamation, as well as and then Lincoln signed off. Here's the text of Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation, which characteristically mixed themes of thankfulness, mercy, as well as penitence:

Washington, D.C.
Oct 3, 1863
By the President of the the States of America.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Proclamation.

The twelvemonth that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields as well as healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that nosotros are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have got been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot neglect to penetrate as well as soften fifty-fifty the middle which is habitually insensible to the e'er watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil state of war of unequaled magnitude as well as severity, which has sometimes seemed to unusual States to invite as well as to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, fellowship has been maintained, the laws have got been respected as well as obeyed, as well as harmony has prevailed everywhere except inwards the theater of military machine conflict; patch that theater has been greatly contracted past times the advancing armies as well as navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth as well as of push clitoris from the fields of peaceful manufacture to the national defence, have got non arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, as well as the mines, every bit good of Fe as well as coal every bit of the precious metals, have got yielded fifty-fifty to a greater extent than abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste materials that has been made inwards the camp, the siege as well as the battle-field; as well as the country, rejoicing inwards the consiousness of augmented push clitoris as well as vigor, is permitted to await continuance of years with large increment of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath whatsoever mortal mitt worked out these dandy things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, patch dealing with us inwards anger for our sins, hath soundless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me jibe as well as proper that they should last solemnly, reverently as well as gratefully acknowledged every bit with i middle as well as i vocalism past times the whole American People. I gain hence invite my boyfriend citizens inwards every business office of the United States, as well as besides those who are at ocean as well as those who are sojourning inwards unusual lands, to laid apart as well as notice the concluding Th of Nov next, every bit a 24-hour interval of Thanksgiving as well as Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth inwards the Heavens. And I recommend to them that patch offering upward the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances as well as blessings, they gain also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness as well as disobedience, commend to His tender tending all those who have got travel widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers inwards the sorry civil strife inwards which nosotros are unavoidably engaged, as well as fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the land as well as to restore it every bit shortly every bit may last consistent with the Divine purposes to the amount enjoyment of peace, harmony, silence as well as Union.

In testimony whereof, I have got hereunto laid my mitt as well as caused the Seal of the the States to last affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third 24-hour interval of October, inwards the twelvemonth of our Lord i m 8 hundred as well as sixty-three, as well as of the Independence of the the States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State