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Thanksgiving in American Memory
Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THRUSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station*, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled* religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty* and Independence, the seventh.
John Hanson, President.*
Charles Thomson, Secretary.*
Made an official holiday
In honor of the ratification* of the United States Constitution in 1789, the first U.S. President, George Washington, November 26th to be a day of national thanksgiving and prayer. He did this after receiving Congressional requests for such a decree. He wrote in his November 26th diary entry” “Being the day appointed for a thanksgiving want to St. Paul’s Chapel though it was most and stormy---but few people at Church.” President Washington later provided money, food and drink to debtors spending the holiday in a New York City jail.
However, Thanksgiving failed to become an annual tradition at this time. Later, in 1817, New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and many other states soon did the same.
On October 3, 1863, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the fourth Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving Day. After the war, Congress finally established a day of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, which continues to this day.
Vocabulary Focus
undefiled(adj)--- keeping the beauty and purity of something undisturbed
sovereignty (n)--- the power of a nation to control its own government
Specialized terms
station(n)--- )(社会)地位 proper or designated social position or rank
ratification(n)--- 正式批准 acceptance of an official agreement,especially by governments