Discover the forgotten origins of Thanksgiving during the American Revolution as Professor Nick Giordano reveals how George Washington and the Continental Congress used national days of thanksgiving to strengthen a struggling nation. Far from the modern holiday of feasts and football, Thanksgiving in the Revolution was an act of resilience, unity, and survival, declared in the darkest moments of war. It's easy to give thanks when everything is going well. It's much more difficult to be thankful in times of despair. This powerful episode uncovers the wartime proclamations after Saratoga, Washington's Valley Forge orders, and the first national Thanksgiving in 1789, connecting the Founders' belief in gratitude to the challenges America faces today. A perfect Thanksgiving listen for anyone who wants to understand the real story behind one of America's most enduring traditions.
Episode Highlights
- How Washington and the Continental Congress created wartime Thanksgivings during the Revolution, including the 1777 proclamation following the victory at Saratoga
- The raw, vivid reality of Valley Forge and why Washington insisted on thanksgiving and prayer during the most desperate winter of the war
- How Washington's 1789 national proclamation shaped the American tradition of Thanksgiving and why its message still matters today
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Timestamps
- 00:52 Thanksgiving: A Reflection on American Resilience
- 01:45 It Wasn't Just About Breaking Bread Between Pilgrims and Indians
- 04:45 Thanksgiving After the Battle of Saratoga
- 05:42 George Washington and the Civic Duty of Thanksgiving
- 06:30 Thanksgiving At Valley Forge One of the Darkest Moments in the American Revolution
- 10:51 The Evolution of Thanksgiving: From Revolution to National Holiday
- 12:35 Why Thanksgiving Matters Today
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