Genocide and Thanksgiving

Americans Invented Thanksgiving to Justify Genocide

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November a national day of thanksgiving, and Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, played a crucial role in promoting this idea. In Plymouth, Massachusetts, the traditional narrative of the first Thanksgiving was already taking shape, but the truth behind this holiday is far more complex. Historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz argues that the holiday was invented to downplay the violent history of colonization.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Thanksgiving is a celebration of the friendship between European colonizers and Native Americans, with the standard story going that the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe came together to share a meal in 1621. This narrative has been passed down for generations, with many Americans believing that the holiday is a time to reflect on the positive relationships between colonizers and Native Americans. However, this simplistic view of history ignores the brutal reality of colonization and the devastating impact it had on Native American communities.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Dunbar-Ortiz and Annette Jaimes have thoroughly examined the history of Thanksgiving, revealing a far more sinister narrative. In 1621, the Wampanoag tribe had already experienced significant losses due to disease and violence brought over by European colonizers. By 1675, tensions between the colonizers and Native Americans had escalated, culminating in King Philip's War, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans. The fact that the first national Thanksgiving was declared in 1863, during the height of the Civil War and the forced relocation of Native American tribes, is a stark reminder of the holiday's true purpose. Historian David Silverman notes that the traditional narrative of Thanksgiving was actively promoted by writers like Sarah Josepha Hale, who sought to create a unifying national holiday that would distract from the violent history of colonization. On November 26, 1863, the first national Thanksgiving was celebrated, and by 1890, the holiday had become an annual tradition, with many Americans unaware of the dark history behind it. As historian Matthew Dennis argues, the invention of Thanksgiving was a deliberate attempt to create a national identity that would justify the genocide of Native American communities, and this narrative has been perpetuated to this day.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Nathaniel Philbrick and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz have actively worked to uncover the truth about the origins of Thanksgiving, but their efforts were often overshadowed by the dominant narrative perpetuated by institutions like the National Park Service and the Plymouth Plantation museum. These institutions, along with many history textbooks, deliberately left out the violent dispossession and marginalization of Native American tribes, instead focusing on the supposedly harmonious relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. The decision to exclude this history was made by educators, policymakers, and cultural leaders who prioritized a simplistic, patriotic narrative over a nuanced and accurate account of the past. One concrete reason for this omission is that the Massachusetts Bay Colony's records of its interactions with Native American tribes were intentionally destroyed or hidden, making it difficult for historians to reconstruct the full story. This destruction of records was a deliberate attempt to erase the history of violence and genocide that underpinned the colonization of America.

The Ripple Effect

The invention of Thanksgiving as a national holiday had concrete consequences for Native American communities, who were forced to assimilate into white culture and abandon their traditional practices. The Dawes Act of 1887, which divided Native American land into individual allotments, was a direct result of the federal government's efforts to erase Native American identity and culture. Today, the legacy of this policy can be seen in the ongoing struggles of Native American communities to maintain their land rights and cultural heritage. For example, the Navajo Nation's current efforts to protect its water rights are a direct result of the historical trauma inflicted upon them by the US government. The modern-day struggles of Native American communities to preserve their languages, cultures, and traditions are a direct consequence of the historical events that led to the creation of Thanksgiving.

The Line That Says It All

The Wampanoag tribe, which had numbered over 12,000 people in the early 17th century, was reduced to just 400 individuals by the mid-19th century, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of European colonization on Native American communities.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the colonization of America and the history of Native American-European interactions in the 17th and 18th centuries.