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N0KFQ > TODAY 18.12.15 15:22l 43 Lines 1748 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 78927_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Dec 18
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<CX2SA<HG8LXL<N0KFQ
Sent: 151218/1421Z 78927@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1777
States give thanks
The new United States celebrates its first national day of
thanksgiving on Thursday, December 18, 1777, commemorating the
American victory at the Battle of Saratoga after the surrender of
General John Burgoyne and 5,000 British troops in October 1777.
In proclaiming the first national day of thanksgiving, Congress
wrote, "It is therefore recommended to the Legislative or
executive Powers of these UNITED STATES, to set apart THURSDAY,
the eighteenth Day of December next, for solemn THANKSGIVING and
PRAISE; That at one Time and with one Voice the good People may
express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate
themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor"
Neither when the Congress proclaimed the day of Thanksgiving on
November 1, nor when the population celebrated in December, were
they aware that on December 17, the French would finally
formalize a military and trade alliance with the rebelling
states. These were not disconnected events. The victory at
Saratoga convinced the French king that the Americans might be
worthy allies and the ensuing alliance made an American victory
possible.
Merely having a national day of thanksgiving was a tremendous
step forward in creating an American identity. Previously, the
colonies had celebrated individually or as part of the British
Empire. Now they had experienced an event that had affected them
all and formalized a celebration that involved them all. With the
French alliance, they had an ally who supported them all.
Americans had just taken a major step on the tortured trail from
colonies to states and from states to nation.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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