Which President made Thanksgiving a national holiday?

Abraham Lincoln declared the first true national autumn Thanksgiving for Thursday, November 26, 1863, recognizing a long-standing New England tradition of placing the holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. He did it partially to help soothe the national mood, which was weary of the Civil War. He declared Thanksgiving again for November 23, 1864.

In 1865, his successor, Andrew Johnson, declared a Thanksgiving for December 7, 1865, and presidents traditionally declared a Thanksgiving for every autumn since. (Andrew Johnson was the first to give government employees the day off, making it a legal holiday.)

In 1941, Congress passed a bill, and FDR signed it, that fixed the date as the fourth Thursday in November. FDR attempted to move the holiday to the third Thursday in November, but Congress enacted a law to fix the date at the fourth Thursday in November, thus making it an "official" holiday. On November 26, 1941, FDR signed the bill.

Answer

President Abraham Lincoln officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday with a decree in 1863.

Answer

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

Answer

President Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day during the Civil War, on October 3, 1863. He asked that the nation give thanks for the Union on the last Thursday of November. This site will have a complete timeline of the history of Thanksgiving. http://www.twoop.com/holidays/archives/2005/11/thanksgiving.html

MrV

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