How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday?

Summary

The transcript explores the origins of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, tracing its roots to a pivotal event in 1621 and subsequent historical developments. Alexander Young's book Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers played a crucial role in establishing the narrative of the first Thanksgiving through a footnote, which helped shape the holiday's mythology. Abraham Lincoln ultimately formalized the holiday in the 1860s by proclaiming the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving, transforming a local observance into a national tradition.