Thanksgiving Day: A Short History

If you grew up in the U.S. then you know the history behind Thanksgiving from an early age. If not, well here's a quick rundown of what they tell you as a child. In the autumn of 1621 a Plymouth governor named William Bradford invited the local Indians to join in a three day festival. The Pilgrims held the festival in gratitude for a bountiful season. This is said to be the "first Thanksgiving."

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, 1914

Seven Score and Eleven Years Ago

Seven score and eleven years ago the sixteenth president of the United States gave a speech at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is now one of the best known speeches in American History and today marks the 150th anniversary of his speech. What most people don't know is that speech was only over two minutes long and Lincoln was NOT the main speaker at the event.