Final answer:
Thanksgiving's origins trace back to a 1621 feast in Plymouth, and it was made an official holiday by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War in 1863. The date was moved up by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 but solidified to the fourth Thursday in November in 1941 to reconcile public dissatisfaction and establish a consistent day for national gratitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
Origins and Establishment of Thanksgiving
The historical roots of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the Pilgrims' 1621 celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts where they feasted on venison, fish, fowl, and beer, in part thanks to the contributions of the Wampanoag people led by Chief Massasoit. This shared meal, often regarded as the first Thanksgiving, was a celebration of a successful harvest and an expression of gratitude. Over the years, it became customary in many American communities to celebrate Thanksgiving. In the early United States, the date of Thanksgiving varied from state to state and year to year.
The transformation of Thanksgiving into a national holiday is credited to President Abraham Lincoln. In the midst of the Civil War in 1863, he proclaimed a national day of 'Thanksgiving and Praise' in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. He scheduled the holiday for the last Thursday in November. This specific date for Thanksgiving continued until 1939 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a move to boost the economy by extending the Christmas shopping season, brought the holiday forward to the second-to-last Thursday of November.
However, this change caused much public outcry, and in 1941, Roosevelt signed a bill making Thanksgiving a national holiday and fixing it to the fourth Thursday of November, which the nation still celebrates today. This day sits between the end of the harvest season and the winter holidays, providing a convenient time for families to gather together. The transformation was completed with Congressional legislation solidifying the day's status as a day of national gratitude.