# November 1, 1777

The Continental Congress recommends states to set aside a day of
thanksgiving to celebrate the military victory at Saratoga. This
tradition continues annually through 1783.

# November 30, 1777

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mgw3&fileName=mgw3g/gwpage002.db&recNum=312

George Washington's General Orders

*Forasmuch as it is the indispensible duty of all men, to adore the
superintending providence of Almighty God . . . .*

*It is therefore recommended by Congress, that Thursday the 18th. day of
December next be set apart for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise; that at
one time, and with one voice, the good people may express the grateful
feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of
their divine benefactor; and that, together with their sincere
acknowledgements and offerings they may join the penitent confession of
their sins; and supplications for such further blessings as they stand
in need of. The Chaplains will properly notice this recommendation, that
the day of thanksgiving may be duly observed in the army, agreeably to
the intentions of Congress.*

# December 18, 1777

Thirteen states celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Connecticut and
Massachusetts also celebrate on November 20. New Hampshire and Vermont
also celebrate on December 4.

# December 9, 1779 and December 7, 1780

Congressional proclamations set aside these days for thanksgiving during
the war for independence.

# October 26, 1781

Congressional committee authorizes Thanksgiving Day for December 13,
1781 a week after the British army surrenders at Yorktown.

October 11, 1782

Continental Congress Proclamation on Thanksgiving Observation

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mgw4&fileName=gwpage088.db&recNum=279

# November 1, 1782

State of New Hampshire establishes general thanksgiving on November 28
after Continental Congress proclamation.

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***IT** being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer
up their supplications to **ALMIGHTY GOD**, . . . but also in a solemn
and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general . . . .
Therefore the United States in Congress assembled . . . Do hereby
recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and
request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing
and commanding the observation of **THURSDAY** the twenty-eight day of
**NOVEMBER** next, as a day of solemn **THANKSGIVING** to **GOD** for
all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify
to their gratitude to **GOD** for his goodness . . . which is the great
foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.*

# October 19, 1784

The last Thanksgiving Day proclaimed by the Continental Congress.

# 

# 

# September 25, 1789

The House of Representatives resolves that the President of the United
States recommend a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the citizens. Then
Senate passes the resolution the next day.

# October 3, 1789

President George Washington proclaims November 26^th^ to be the first
Thanksgiving Day under the Constitution. He later provides money for
"provisions and beer" to debtors in the New York City jail.

**1795**

President George Washington declares a day of thanksgiving.

**1798 and 1799**

President John Adams declares days of thanksgiving.

# August 20, 1812, September 9, 1813, and January 12, 1815

President James Madison sets aside days of fasting and prayer at the
request of Congress during the War of 1812.

# April 13, 1815

President James Madison proclaims day of thanksgiving after the Treaty
of Ghent ends the War of 1812.

# 

**1817**

Governors in New York and Pennsylvania establish Thanksgiving Day in
their states. After two years, Pennsylvania stopped celebrating the
holiday due to a lack of interest.

# November 25, 1824

The Michigan Territory celebrates its first Thanksgiving Day and
establishes an annual event.

# December 29, 1842

Illinois celebrates its first statewide Thanksgiving Day.

**1844**

The Iowa Territory celebrates for the first time.

**1846**

Sarah J. Hale, editor of *Godey's Lady's Book*, begins her campaign to
make Thanksgiving a national holiday by writing editorials and
petitioning governors in states and territories.

# January 15, 1846

The state of Louisiana observes its first Thanksgiving.

# November 26, 1846

Louisiana celebrates its first Thanksgiving.

# December 9, 1847

Arkansas celebrates its first Thanksgiving.

**1849**

King Kamehameha proclaims a national Thanksgiving Day in Hawaii.

# November 29, 1849

The California Territory celebrates its first Thanksgiving.

# December 26, 1850

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/lhbumbib:@field(NUMBER+@band(lhbum+48053))

*The holiday was observed the day after Christmas for fourteen years
until 1864 when President Lincoln set the last Thursday of November as
the national Thanksgiving. The first territorial thanks day was marked
by ringing bells at sunrise and sunset of the twenty-sixth . . . .*

*Our first Thanksgiving found a sparsely settled territory including all
of what is now the State of Minnesota plus the Dakotas as far west as
the Missouri River. The nine counties of the territory counted only a
few more than 6,000 people. St. Paul was a frontier village with about
225 dwellings, while St. Anthony boasted only 115.*

**1852**

Governor John Gaines issues the first Thanksgiving proclamation for the
Oregon Territory.

# November 30, 1854

Nebraska celebrates its first Thanksgiving Day.

# December 25, 1855

The Kansas Territory celebrates its first Thanksgiving Day.

October 3, 1860

L.L. Doty, a clerk in the New York governor's office, writes to Sarah J.
Hale.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mal&fileName=mal1/039/0391000/malpage.db&recNum=0

*I am directed by Governor Morgan to inclose herewith to you, a copy of
his Proclamation designating Thursday, November 29^th^ as a day of
public Thanksgiving in this State.*

*Under his direction a copy has been mailed to the Governors of the
several states.*

# November 1861

Massachusetts and Maine celebrate on Thursday, November 21^st^ on the
anniversary of the 1620 signing of the Mayflower Compact.

The rest of the Union celebrates on Thursday November 28^th^ as
President Abraham Lincoln declares a federal holiday.

# April 13, 1862

Day of thanksgiving after successful Union victories.

# 

**September 28, 1863**

Nathaniel P. Banks, former Governor of Massachusetts and Major General
in the Union Army, writes to Sarah J. Hale.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mal&fileName=mal1/266/2668000/malpage.db&recNum=0

*It will afford me very great pleasure to comply with your request and
make the appointment for Thanksgiving on the 24^th^, the last Thursday
of November. The Governors of Rhode Island and the New Hampshire will do
the same.*

Sarah J. Hale writes to President Abraham Lincoln.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mal&fileName=mal1/266/2669900/malpage.db&recNum=0

The influence of these state seasons of sacred remembrances . . . would
not only be salutary on the character of our own citizens, but the world
would be made better and happier by the sentiments which our Festivals
teach. . . . A national feeling of THANKSGIVING, putting the bounty,
goodness, and love of the Creator before the eyes of the dullest and the
hearts of the coldest, would effect incalculable benefits to our
Country.

# October 3, 1863

President Lincoln proclaims national Thanksgiving Day for the last
Thursday of November.

# May 9, 1864

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mal&fileName=mal1/329/3293600/malpage.db&recNum=0

Abraham Lincoln writes a letter to the "Friends of Union and Liberty":

I recommend that all patriots, at their homes, in their places of public
worship, and wherever they . . ., unite in common thanksgiving and
prayer to Almighty God.

**October 9, 1864**

Sarah J. Hale writes to Secretary of State William H. Seward

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mal&fileName=mal1/370/3708100/malpage.db&recNum=0

*Enclosed is an article (or proof) on the National Thanksgivings. As you
were, last year, kindly interested in this subject, I ventured to
request your good offices again . . . .*

*I trust that President Lincoln will have issue his proclamation
appointing the last Thursday in November as the Day. I send a copy of
the proof for the President. You will greatly . . . me by handing this
to him and acquainting him with the contents of this letter. I do not
like to trouble him with a note.*

# November 24, 1864

President Lincoln sets the final Thursday in November for Thanksgiving
for a second year.

# December 7, 1865

Thanksgiving Day set by Andrew Johnson and creating a legal holiday for
federal employees and the District of Columbia.

#### February 3, 1873

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The House of Representatives debates a bill "*To provide for the
observance of a day of national thanksgiving in all the States and
Territories of the United States.*"

**1917 and 1918**

World War I affects Thanksgiving tables throughout the nation through
rationing foods such as wheat, meat, fats, and sugars.

**1921**

Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia sponsors a Thanksgiving parade
to promote the holiday buying season.

**1933**

The National Retail Dry Goods Association petitions President Franklin
Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving from November 30^th^ to November 23^rd^
to extend the Christmas shopping season by a week. The president refuses
the request citing the confusion such a move would cause.

**1934**

The Detroit Lions play the first of many Thanksgiving Day football games
and broadcast across the nation on the radio.

**1939**

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declares November 23, the next to
last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving. The proclamation only applies
to the District of Columbia and state governors proclaim their own
Thanksgiving Days with 23 states celebrating on November 23^rd^, 23
states celebrating on November 30^th^, and Texas and Colorado
celebrating twice.

# November 1940

The nation splits on the holiday again as half of the states celebrate
on November 21 and the other half on November 28.

# May 20, 1941

President Roosevelt announces his intention to restore Thanksgiving in
1942.

**November 26, 1941**

President Roosevelt signs a bill establishing Thanksgiving Day as the
fourth Thursday in November.

**1956**

Television begins broadcasting the annual Detroit Lions football game.

# November 28, 1963

Six days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon
Johnson renames Station No.1 of the Atlantic Missile Range and the NASA
Launch Operation Center in Florida to the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

In his public address, he asks the public to "resolve determined that
from this midnight of tragedy we shall move toward a new American
greatness."