Worst of all is that the Yankees won the “civil war”. So, dominated by NEers, guess who wrote the history?
Thanksgiving was a very common practice. Yet it’s treated as if this was the only very special, rare Thanks to God ever presented. Heck, I find that when “history of (The) Thanksgiving” is told, suddenly they try to conflate other proclaimed thanksgivings (during the RevWar, e.g.) into the fold as if it “continued the tradition”.
I believe that there is a record of the founders of St. Augustine, FL holding a Thanksgiving celebration during their early years. That would’ve been in the 1500s. Perhaps somebody can add the details.