The full tale of Thanksgiving in America, from fragile partnerships to a debated tradition.
The 1621 feast wasn't merely a friendly meeting. It marked a delicate alliance between two struggling groups, each relying on the other to endure looming dangers.
90%
Mortality Rate
A plague (1616–1619) brought by European traders decimated up to 90% of the coastal Indigenous people, weakening the Wampanoag confederacy against their enemies.
50%
Survival Rate
Landing in winter 1620, the Plymouth settlers faced disease and famine. By spring, just half of the 102 passengers and crew had survived.
The 20th century shaped the Thanksgiving feast we know today, unlike the original 3-day harvest gathering, which showcased New England's seasonal and wild offerings.
For two centuries, the 1621 feast faded into obscurity. It was revived in the 1800s to craft a shared origin tale for a nation torn by civil war.
During the Civil War, President Lincoln, prompted by editor Sarah Josepha Hale, proclaims Thanksgiving a national holiday to promote unity, tying it to the 1621 harvest feast.
Macy's debuts its first Thanksgiving Day Parade, tying the holiday to Christmas shopping and festive entertainment.
Amid date confusion, Congress enacts a law, signed by FDR, setting Thanksgiving on November's fourth Thursday.
For numerous Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving evokes the deep wounds of colonization, masking the violence that came after with a false tale of harmony.
40%
Native Population Killed
A 50-year peace crumbled into a brutal war, erasing Indigenous sovereignty in New England. Colonists marked victories with "thanksgivings."
1970
A Counter-Narrative Begins
After his honest speech was silenced, Wampanoag leader Wamsutta (Frank) James created this annual protest to honor Indigenous ancestors and challenge the Thanksgiving narrative.