Lincoln Declares a National Day of Thanksgiving
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 4, 1863
In the midst of an ongoing and painful civil conflict, President Abraham Lincoln has issued an official presidential proclamation inviting the American people to observe a national day of Thanksgiving. Signed on the third day of October, the executive document sets apart the last Thursday of November as a unified day of gratitude and prayer for citizens across the United States.
While regional thanksgiving celebrations have been customary in various states for generations, particularly throughout New England, the observance has never before been established as a fixed, nationwide event occurring simultaneously in every state. Individual governors previously selected their own dates, leading to scattered autumn observances throughout the country. President Lincoln’s new measure seeks to unite the fractured nation under a single, shared calendar event.
Government records indicate that Secretary of State William H. Seward played a key role in the creation of the document, assisting the President by drafting the formal text. The proclamation acknowledges the immense grief and loss caused by the Civil War, recognizing the many widows, orphans, and wounded soldiers across the land. Despite these severe trials, the official message directs the public's attention to the nation's enduring blessings, including bountiful harvests, growing industries, and the preservation of peace with foreign nations.
- proclamation:
- An official, public announcement made by an authority such as a president.
- observance:
- The act of following or celebrating a custom, holiday, or religious practice.
- customary:
- Commonly done according to tradition or usual practice.
- bountiful:
- Existing in large, abundant quantities.
- decree:
- An official order or decision issued by a legal authority.
- simultaneously:
- at the exact same time
- restoration:
- the act of returning something to an earlier, healthy, or complete condition
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- 1When was President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation signed?
- 2What specific day of the year was set aside for the national Thanksgiving observance?
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About this news article passage for 6th Grade
“Lincoln Declares a National Day of Thanksgiving” is a news article reading passage about Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, written for 6th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (328 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.