The Mother of Thanksgiving

In this episode of Throughline, the hosts delve into the history of Thanksgiving, exploring three distinct narratives. The first examines the initial Thanksgiving feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621, highlighting the historical context often overlooked in traditional tellings. The second story recounts King Philip's War more than 50 years later, revealing the conflict and disrespect the Wampanoags faced from English colonists. Finally, the episode details Sarah Josepha Hale's 19th-century campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday during the Civil War, emphasizing its role in fostering national unity. The podcast further explores how the Thanksgiving myth evolved, often obscuring the complex and sometimes violent history between Native Americans and European settlers.