Session 5: From harvest to holiday: how Thanksgiving was made

Read one step, do it, then move on.

Step 1

Recap check

What did Locke say about America?
What was the Walking Purchase?
Name the three types of colonies.

Answer key

That it was the example of land in a natural state.
A 1737 deal by which Penn's sons took Lenape land.
Charter, proprietary, royal.

Step 2

Objectives

Read the only eyewitness account of 1621
Follow the making of a national tradition (1621, 1863, 1941)

Step 3

Documents

Key document

“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours. [...] many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted.” Edward Winslow, letter of 11 December 1621.

Read the source: Pilgrim Hall Museum, the First Thanksgiving · NMAI, Harvest Ceremony study guide · Lincoln's proclamation, 1863

"set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise"
Abraham Lincoln, proclamation of 3 October 1863

Another viewpoint

The Pilgrim Hall Museum describes the 1621 gathering as a diplomatic event: the English needed to keep the alliance made a few months earlier with the Wampanoag sachem Ousamequin, the Massasoit. Winslow's account says the Wampanoag brought five deer. In 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving. In 1941, Congress fixed it on the fourth Thursday of November.

Step 4

Task 1

Read Winslow: what is celebrated? Who is the host? Who are the guests?

Step 5

Task 2

Notice what the text does not say: no turkey, no pumpkin pie, no word Thanksgiving.

Step 6

Task 3

Timeline: 1621, 1863, 1941. Why would a president at war create a day of unity?

Step 7

Gap-fill worksheet

Word bank: harvest Massasoit ninety 1863 alliance

In 1621, the settlers celebrated their .
The Wampanoag leader was .
He came with some men.
Lincoln proclaimed the holiday in .
The gathering was also a way to keep an .

Answer key

harvest
Massasoit
ninety
1863
alliance

Step 8

Homework

Write five sentences about 1621 using is said to have, is believed to have, or it is thought that. Mark each as myth or fact.

Answer key

Model answer: The Pilgrims are said to have eaten turkey (not stated by Winslow). Massasoit is known to have come with some ninety men (fact, Winslow). The feast is believed to have lasted three days (fact, Winslow). It is often thought that it was called Thanksgiving (myth). The Wampanoag are known to have brought five deer (fact).