How Abraham Lincoln Turned Thanksgiving Into a National Tradition of Unity and Gratitude

In the middle of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving—transforming a patchwork of local celebrations into a unifying national tradition.

A Nation in Turmoil

By 1863, the United States was torn apart by civil war. The conflict had entered its third brutal year, and divisions between North and South ran deep. Yet amid the hardship, President Abraham Lincoln found reason to call the nation to gratitude.

On October 3, 1863, he issued a proclamation establishing the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving—a call for Americans to pause and reflect, not on war and loss, but on blessings and hope for healing.

Sarah Josepha Hale’s Influence

While Lincoln’s proclamation was historic, it did not emerge in a vacuum. For decades, author and editor Sarah Josepha Hale—best known for writing Mary Had a Little Lamb—had campaigned for a national Thanksgiving holiday.

Through her influential publication, Godey’s Lady’s Book, Hale wrote letters to presidents, governors, and members of Congress urging the creation of a unified day of gratitude that would bring Americans together across regions and faiths.

Her appeals finally reached Lincoln, who saw in her vision a chance to foster unity in a divided country.

Lincoln’s Words of Reflection

Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation struck a powerful balance between gratitude and solemnity. He wrote that even amid the “civil war of unequaled magnitude,” the nation had enjoyed fruitful fields, growing population, and continued liberty.

He invited citizens to express thanks for “the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies,” while also asking them to remember “all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife.”

It was both a national call to gratitude and a reminder of shared humanity.

The First Official Thanksgiving

Lincoln’s proclamation made Thanksgiving an annual, national event. On November 26, 1863, Americans across the Union observed the first federally recognized Thanksgiving.

The idea spread quickly. Even in later years, after the war’s end, the tradition endured. Presidents continued issuing annual proclamations, and by the late 19th century, Thanksgiving was firmly established as an American institution.

From Lincoln to Today

In 1941, Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially fixed the date as the fourth Thursday in November, ensuring the holiday’s consistency.

Lincoln’s act remains one of the most enduring examples of how leadership can elevate a nation’s spirit even in its darkest hour. His 1863 proclamation turned private gratitude into public unity—something still needed today.