In 1777 the first national day of thanksgiving was declared by the Continental congress after the victory at Saratoga over the British. In 1789 the newly formed U.S. Congress passed a resolution requesting “a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.”
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