Much credit is due to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale. She promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day. She contacted President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Some have said that this Proclamation came at a pivotal point in Lincoln's life. During the first week of July, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg occurred, resulting in the loss of 60,000 American lives. Four months later in November, Lincoln delivered the "Gettysburg Address." According to some accounts, during this period of time he experienced a renewing and awakening of his spiritual life. And the Proclamation was made: A National Day of Thanksgiving.
Then, in 1941, Congress permanently establised the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.
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