How George Washington Angered Lawmakers over Thanksgiving
2022-11-24
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1In September 1789, the government of the United States was only a few months old.
2George Washington was president - the nation's first. Congress was new, too.
3Some of the early lawmakers came to the president with a question: Would he call for a national Thanksgiving?
4One aim was to help unify the young country, which was made of the 13 former colonies.
5Calling a national Thanksgiving would be a way to bring Americans together.
6But other lawmakers strongly objected to the idea.
7Critics had two main concerns.
8First, some saw Thanksgiving as a religious holiday.
9They noted the president could not use the power of the federal government to urge Americans to follow -- or not follow -- a religious tradition.
10Second, opponents of the measure believed the president did not have the right to call a national Thanksgiving.
11That power belonged to the leader of each state, they said.
12In the end, Washington did formally call for a national Thanksgiving.
13It was the country's first presidential proclamation.
14In it, he called for a national "day of public thanksgiving and prayer."
15He also tried to satisfy opponents of the idea.
16Melanie Kirkpatrick is the writer of "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience."
17She explains that Washington sent copies of his proclamation to the leader of each of the 13 states.
18He asked them to call a national Thanksgiving on the day he had chosen.
19The president was very well respected, Kirkpatrick notes.
20And so the state leaders all agreed.
21In the years that followed, some presidents issued their own proclamations for a day of thanksgiving; many others did not.
22Finally, in 1941, lawmakers in Congress made the fourth Thursday in November a legal holiday.
23This Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will gather to eat a meal and express their thanks.
24Their gatherings may echo George Washington's first Thanksgiving proclamation.
25In it, the first president made a point of declaring that people of all religions should celebrate Thanksgiving.
26That idea is still important.
27Almost everyone in the country, including immigrants, observes the holiday in some way.
28Kirkpatrick says that for new Americans, the day can be a rite of passage.
29In her words, "The idea is that once you celebrate Thanksgiving, you know you are truly participating in a national festival that cements your position as an American."
30I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1In September 1789, the government of the United States was only a few months old. George Washington was president - the nation's first. Congress was new, too. Some of the early lawmakers came to the president with a question: Would he call for a national Thanksgiving? 2One aim was to help unify the young country, which was made of the 13 former colonies. Calling a national Thanksgiving would be a way to bring Americans together. 3But other lawmakers strongly objected to the idea. Critics had two main concerns. 4First, some saw Thanksgiving as a religious holiday. They noted the president could not use the power of the federal government to urge Americans to follow -- or not follow -- a religious tradition. 5Second, opponents of the measure believed the president did not have the right to call a national Thanksgiving. That power belonged to the leader of each state, they said. 6In the end, Washington did formally call for a national Thanksgiving. It was the country's first presidential proclamation. In it, he called for a national "day of public thanksgiving and prayer." 7He also tried to satisfy opponents of the idea. 8Melanie Kirkpatrick is the writer of "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience." She explains that Washington sent copies of his proclamation to the leader of each of the 13 states. He asked them to call a national Thanksgiving on the day he had chosen. 9The president was very well respected, Kirkpatrick notes. And so the state leaders all agreed. 10In the years that followed, some presidents issued their own proclamations for a day of thanksgiving; many others did not. 11Finally, in 1941, lawmakers in Congress made the fourth Thursday in November a legal holiday. 12This Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will gather to eat a meal and express their thanks. Their gatherings may echo George Washington's first Thanksgiving proclamation. In it, the first president made a point of declaring that people of all religions should celebrate Thanksgiving. 13That idea is still important. Almost everyone in the country, including immigrants, observes the holiday in some way. 14Kirkpatrick says that for new Americans, the day can be a rite of passage. In her words, "The idea is that once you celebrate Thanksgiving, you know you are truly participating in a national festival that cements your position as an American." 15I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 16Dora Mekouar wrote this story for VOA. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17____________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19proclamation - n. an official statement or announcement made by a person in power or by a government 20echo - v. to have a feature or quality that repeats or resembles (something else) 21rite of passage - n. an act that is a symbol of an important change in someone's life 22participate - v. to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others 23cement - v. to make (something) stronger