On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. He did this during the Civil War, at a time of heavy losses and deep division. The proclamation emphasized gratitude for harvests, industrial growth, and the survival of the Union despite conflict. It encouraged Americans to pause for reflection and prayers for those affected by war. The observance helped create a shared national tradition that crossed regional and religious lines. Congress later fixed the date more precisely, but Lincoln’s action firmly established Thanksgiving as a recurring national holiday.
