This document provides background information about Thanksgiving in the United States. It discusses the origins of Thanksgiving among the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people in 1621, though the holiday was not officially recognized as a national celebration until 1863. The document also acknowledges the difficult history and marginalization faced by Native American peoples, including the forced relocation of many tribes in the 1830s-1850s. It provides timelines of key Thanksgiving-related events and details about modern Thanksgiving traditions like turkey, parades, shopping, and family meals.

1. Thanksgiving
A festival to celebrate?
Rockwell - Freedom from Want

2. The traditional story…

3. The traditional story…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntBySNxbL0

4. The traditional story…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUYJ9fMiGg

5. The origins: Native American People

6. Massachusetts Bay Colony (Plymouth)
After religious freedom
Landed in 1620
102 people
Virginia Colony (Jamestown)
Established by Royal charter
Economic opportunities (tobacco)
Founded in 1607
104 people
Mayflower
The origins: the birth of English-speaking USA
Turbulent politics and society (political and economic problems) in 17th century
England created a desire for a new home in North America.
Pilgrims

7. What do Native American youngsters say?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=K7jLeBWMA0U&app=desktop#dialog

8. Why should we know the history behind Thanksgiving?
To remember history as it happened, not as we would like to remember it
To recognize the difficult situation of the Native American people who are still
marginalized in the USA today.
Many Native Americans today live on ‘reservations’, which represent the poorest 1%
of the USA.
The Trail of Tears (1830-1850)
60,000 Native Americans forced by the US Government
to leave their ancestral land and relocate west of the
Mississippi River
Interactive map
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/06/17/interactive_map_loss_of_indian_land.html?via=gdpr-consent
To acknowledge and respect the culture and history of Native Americans.

9. Why should we know the history behind Thanksgiving?
Land loss of Native Americans since 1776

10. 1620 - Pilgrims arrive in the New World and face a harsh winter
1621 - Pilgrims enjoy a successful harvest with great help from Native
Americans (the Wampanoags)
The first meal shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe
1637 - The Governor of Plymouth announces Thanksgiving to celebrate
their victory over Native Americans in the Pequot War (1636-1638)
1863 - Abraham Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to
celebrate victory at Gettysburg during the American Civil War (1861-1865)
Today - Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to spend time together,
share LOTS of food, and be thankful for what we have in our lives
A timeline for Thanksgiving
Plymouth Rock, MA
Abraham Lincoln
First Thanksgiving dinner?
Pequot War *

11. The fourth Thursday of November in the USA
46 Million turkeys
Turkey Bowl GameMacy’s Thanksgivings
Day Parade
Family dinnerBusiest day of the year
Volunteering in food banks,
homeless shelters, etc.
Black
Friday
ChristmasCyber
Monday
Thanksgiving
(Thursday)
Biggest shopping day
of the year
Online shopping
… but the second Monday of October in Canada

12. A Thanksgiving Dinner!
Turkey and stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Pies (pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, apple)
Cornbread
Gravy

13. What are YOU thankful for ?

14. I say thanks for…
I’m thanful for…
I thank you for …
Today …
Let’s make our gratitude turkey!
Family, friends, health, work, …?
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