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Line 30: − + − The [[Pilgrims]] had arrived in 1620, crossing the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to separate themselves from the official [[Church of England]] and practice freely their form of Puritanism. Arriving at Plymouth Colony—part of today’s Massachusetts—too late to grow many crops, and lacking fresh food, the Pilgrims suffered terribly during the winter of 1620–1621. Half the colony died from disease. The following spring, local Wampanoag Indians taught the colonists how to grow corn (maize) and other local crops unfamiliar to the Pilgrims, and also helped the newcomers master hunting and fishing.+ + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − + − +
emphasis on God; additions to history
:''"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."'' [http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=50]
:''"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."'' [http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=50]
[[Image:Thanksgiving.jpg|left|275px]]
[[Image:Thanksgiving.jpg|right|275px]]
===Journey to the New World===
On August 1, 1620, the [[Mayflower]] set sail. The ship carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty [[Pilgrims]] led by [[William Bradford]]. On the journey, Bradford established a contract of "just and equal laws" for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. The revolutionary ideas expressed in the [[Mayflower Compact]] came from the [[Bible]].
Because they harvested bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins, the colonists had much to be thankful for in the fall of 1621. English Puritans had traditionally designated special days of thanksgiving to express gratitude for God’s blessings. In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony held their first Thanksgiving. They invited their Wampanoag benefactors who arrived with deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes from the Indians.
The Pilgrims had high regards to the lessons of the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament|New Testaments]]. They looked to the ancient [[Israelite|Israelites]] as a positive example to follow. Because of the biblical precedents set forth in [[Scripture]], they never doubted that the first social contract in America would work.
The journey to the [[New World]] was an arduous one. When the Pilgrims landed in [[New England]] in November, they found, according to Bradford's detailed journal, "[a] cold, barren, desolate wilderness." There were no friends to greet them. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. The Pilgrims suffered terribly during the winter of 1620–1621; half the Pilgrims, including Bradford's own wife, died of either starvation, sickness or exposure.
The following spring, local Wampanoag Indians taught the colonists how to grow fish for [[cod]] and skin [[beaver|beavers]] for [[coat|coats]], and how to corn (maize) and other local crops unfamiliar to the Pilgrims. The Indians helped the newcomers master hunting and fishing. Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper. No matter, the Pilgrims remained faithful to God and gave thanks as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments.<ref>''See, I Told You So'' (p. 70): "The True Story of Thanksgiving."</ref>
===Social Contract===
The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in [[London]] called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well. They were going to distribute it equally. Nobody owned anything. They just had a share in it.
Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as experienced during the first harsh winter. Bradford decided to take bold action. He assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. Long before [[Karl Marx]] was born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what today is described as [[socialism]].
What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation. The Pilgrims decided early on to scrap socialism permanently. Bradford wrote about this social experiment in his diary.
{{cquote|The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God. For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense...that was thought injustice.<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]: ''See, I Told You So'' ISBN 0671871218 Chapter 6, "The True Story of Thanksgiving."</ref>}}
===Power of Free Enterprise===
The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So Bradford's community unharnessed the power of free enterprise by invoking the capitalistic principle of private property. Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. The supply-side economics were faithfully taken from the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in [[Genesis]] 41. Following Joseph's suggestion,<ref>([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041:34&version=NIV Gen 41:34]) "Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance."</ref> Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the "seven years of plenty" and the "Earth brought forth in heaps."<ref>([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041:47&version=NIV Gen. 41:47]) "During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully."</ref> Bradford wrote on the success of capitalist principles and supply-side economics.
{{cquote|This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been."}}
In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves. Because they harvested bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins, the colonists had much to be thankful for in the fall of 1621. English Puritans had traditionally designated special days of thanksgiving to express gratitude for God’s blessings. Thanksgiving is thanks to [[God]].
In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony held their first Thanksgiving. They invited their Wampanoag benefactors who arrived with deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes from the Indians.
Many of the original colonists continued to celebrate days of thanksgiving for a bountiful autumn harvest and the blessings of freedom God had bestowed on them. President George Washington proclaimed a Day of National Thanksgiving in 1789, to celebrate the ratification of the United States Constitution. Gradually, a number of states began to celebrate an annual Thanksgiving. In 1863,during the long and bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November an annual National Day of Thanksgiving, to give thanks to God for the blessings God had bestowed upon the [[United States]].
Many of the original colonists continued to celebrate days of thanksgiving for a bountiful autumn harvest and the blessings of freedom God had bestowed on them. President George Washington proclaimed a Day of National Thanksgiving in 1789, to celebrate the ratification of the United States Constitution. Gradually, a number of states began to celebrate an annual Thanksgiving. In 1863,during the long and bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November an annual National Day of Thanksgiving, to give thanks to God for the blessings God had bestowed upon the [[United States]].
===Thanksgiving is Thanks to God===
[[Image:Thanksgiving grace - 1942.jpg|right|300px]]
[[Image:Thanksgiving grace - 1942.jpg|right|300px]]
Thanksgiving is a time for prayer, tradition and sharing. Even if they live far away, family members often gather for family reunions. As a result, Thanksgiving marks the busiest domestic air travel period of the year. Many Americans enjoy a local Thanksgiving parade, or the annual Macy’s department store parade, televised live from New York City. Others watch televised American football, while all give thanks together to God for their food, shelter and other good things. Many volunteer their time to help civic groups, churches, and charitable organizations offer traditional meals to those in need.
Thanksgiving is a time for prayer, tradition and sharing. Even if they live far away, family members often gather for family reunions. As a result, Thanksgiving marks the busiest domestic air travel period of the year. Many Americans enjoy a local Thanksgiving parade, or the annual Macy’s department store parade, televised live from New York City. Others watch televised [[NFL|American Pro Football]], while all give thanks together to God for their food, shelter and other good things. Many volunteer their time to help civic groups, churches, and charitable organizations offer traditional meals to those in need.
Although the fourth Thursday of November falls on a different date every year, the president is expected to proclaim that date as the official celebration.
Although the fourth Thursday of November falls on a different date every year, the president is expected to proclaim that date as the official celebration.
The Pilgrims’ triumph over starvation and disease at [[Plymouth Colony]] can be traced to something more than the charitable gestures of a few local Indians. Rather, it was their faith in Divine Providence and the blessings of God. It also involves their courageous decision to replace a failed, socialistic agricultural system with one formed by the free-market principle of private ownership of property -- a century and a half before [[Adam Smith]] wrote The Wealth of Nations.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23453 The Reality of Thanksgiving], by Mike Franc, ''Human Events'', 11/16/2007.</ref>
The Pilgrims’ triumph over starvation and disease at [[Plymouth Colony]] can be traced to something more than the charitable gestures of a few local Indians. Rather, it was their faith in Divine Providence and the blessings of God. It also involves their courageous decision to replace a failed, socialistic agricultural system with one formed by the free-market principle of private ownership of property -- a century and a half before [[Adam Smith]] wrote The Wealth of Nations.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23453 The Reality of Thanksgiving], by Mike Franc, ''Human Events'', 11/16/2007.</ref>
==Symbols of Thanksgiving==
==Symbols of Thanksgiving==