Thanksgiving in the 18th Century

While the holiday as we know it was not in existence until the 20th century, thanksgiving observations were common in the eighteenth century, with proclamations made by both Chruch and civil leaders.  In 1789, George Washington issued the first nation-wide thanksgiving proclamation, during his first year as President.  The decree set aside Thursday, November 26 as "A Day of Publick Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal [sic] favours of Almighty God."

Throughout the 18th century, it was common practice for individual colonies to observe days of thanksgiving throughout the year. These were generally days set aside for prayer and fasting, not celebrations marked by plentiful food and drink as is today's custom. Later in the century, each of the States would periodically designate a day of thanksgiving in honour of a military victory, an adoption of a State constitution or an exceptionally bountiful crop.

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the observance of the fourth Tuesday of November as a national holiday.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday of November, in order to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy. After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941 to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.