Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Campaigned for Thanksgiving
Long before Thanksgiving was celebrated across the entire United States on the same day, local communities observed their own days of harvest and gratitude. In the early nineteenth century, there was no permanent national holiday. A state governor might declare a day of thanks in October, while another chose a date in December, and some states celebrated no holiday at all. The woman who worked tirelessly to change this was Sarah Josepha Hale.
Born in New Hampshire in 1788, Sarah Josepha Hale grew up with a deep passion for learning. At a time when higher education was largely closed to women, she educated herself through books and the guidance of her family. After the untimely death of her husband left her to raise five young children alone, Hale turned to writing to support her household. She published poetry, including the famous children's poem "Mary's Lamb" (widely known today as "Mary Had a Little Lamb"), as well as novels and essays.
- unified:
- Brought together to form a single, complete unit.
- platform:
- A means or opportunity to share ideas and opinions with a large audience.
- proclamation:
- An official public announcement made by a leader or government.
- advocacy:
- The act of publicly supporting or recommending a specific cause or policy.
- conflict:
- A serious disagreement, battle, or war between opposing groups.
- compelling:
- convincing, forceful, and capable of persuading someone
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How was Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States before it became a national holiday?
- 2Why did Sarah Josepha Hale turn to writing as a profession?
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About this biography passage for 5th Grade
“Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Campaigned for Thanksgiving” is a biography reading passage about Sarah Josepha Hale and the Establishment of National Thanksgiving, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (476 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.