The Rich Heritage of Giving Thanks for American Liberty

By Liberty Counsel Staff

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

Thanksgiving is a cornerstone of American heritage — a humble yet powerful expression of gratitude for liberty, faith, and sacrifice. From the Pilgrims to the Founders, through the Civil War and into modern times, Thanksgiving reflects biblical principles of humble prayer and thankfulness for the blessings of liberty and the sacrifices to achieve it.

The First Thanksgiving: A Journey of Faith and Freedom

While Thanksgiving certainly echoes the early biblical harvest festivals, such as the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a time when the Israelites gave thanks for God’s provision during the harvest season (Leviticus 23:33–43), the first Thanksgiving is traditionally traced back to 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims, seeking religious liberty and escape from persecution, endured a 66-day voyage aboard the Mayflower through treacherous storms to reach the New World. Before landing, they voted to establish a new form of government and signed the Mayflower Compact, America’s first governing document, declaring their mission was “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.”

The Mayflower Compact established a form of self-government with the idea of “just and equal laws” made by and for the people — laying the foundation for American democracy. The Pilgrims would then develop relations with the native Wampanoag people who taught them their farming and survival skills. After surviving a harsh winter with help from the Wampanoag, the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest with prayers and gratitude, acknowledging divine providence for their newfound liberty.

Thanksgiving in the Early Republic

After the first Thanksgiving, similar observances became common in the colonies. However, the holiday gained national significance in 1789 when President George Washington issued the first official Thanksgiving proclamation under the new Constitution. Washington, who witnessed and endured immense hardships during the Revolutionary War, understood that his army’s resilience, sacrifices, and ultimate victory were not powered by human strength alone but by divine providence. As President, Washington expressed liberty is a natural, God-given right, and he connected hard-won American liberty to a people who honored God and the Christian faith.

In his inaugural address, Washington affirmed that “the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

Later that year, he proclaimed November 26 as a day of national thanksgiving and prayer, urging Americans to offer “sincere and humble thanks” for God’s manifold mercies.

The Civil War and Lincoln’s Proclamation

By 1815, states had issued over 1,400 prayer proclamations — half for thanksgiving and half for fasting. Yet the national holiday owes much to Sarah Josepha Hale, known as the “Mother of Thanksgiving,” who tirelessly advocated over decades for a unified day of gratitude. As so, she wrote to President Abraham Lincoln advocating for a national Thanksgiving holiday.

During the Civil War’s darkest days, President Abraham Lincoln embraced Hale’s vision. After visiting Gettysburg and witnessing the graves of thousands of soldiers in November 1863, Lincoln consecrated himself to Christ.

On October 3, 1863, he proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a National Day of Thanksgiving and Praise, acknowledging that “No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

A Timeless Tradition Rooted in Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one of America’s most cherished holidays, deeply rooted in faith, community, and gratitude for God’s grace and provision.

From the Pilgrims’ prayers to Washington’s proclamations and Lincoln’s resolve, this holiday reminds us that the survival of our nation depends on biblical values and a grateful citizenry.

Across more than four centuries, the fabric of America was woven with timeless thankfulness revealing, “Where there the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).