How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday

Jay Milbrandt shares his research about the Pilgrims’ journey from England to North America as they fled religious persecution. As a descendant of two early immigrants on the Mayflower, Milbrandt was curious about what the true story was behind their ocean voyage. He describes the harsh conditions that the Pilgrims and Puritans endured, as they barely survived the first couple of years, with the help of an Indian named Squanto and the native Wampanoag tribe, explaining how festivals in Plymouth, Massachusetts became connected to our modern-day Thanksgiving. He also shares about the significance of the Mayflower Compact, which in some ways laid a foundation for the U.S. Constitution.    

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