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Squanto Helping the Pilgrims
After a harsh winter, the Pilgrims lost around 50-60 people with even more sick or close to death. In March, a Native American named Squanto taught them to find and grow food sources. He showed them how to plant corn crops, gather sap from trees, hunt for fish and animals, and avoid poisonous plants. -
First Thanksgiving
After their first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bradford organized and hosted the very first Thanksgiving to celebrate their good fortune and the Native’s help. -
Second Thanksgiving
Recovering from a long drought (which killed almost all their crops), the Pilgrims decided to hold yet another Thanksgiving to commemorate their loss and gain. -
Thanksgiving Introduced Again
During the American Revolution, George Washington took the tradition and nationalized it, calling for Americans to celebrate the conclusion of the long war. -
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Thanksgiving Becomes National Holiday
From 1827 to 1863, author Sarah Josepha Hale pushed to have Thanksgiving established as a national holiday. After sending many letters to important persons (government officials, senators, etc.), President Abraham Lincoln replied and signed the bill to have it the fourth Thursday of November.
