Show earliest thanksgiving the earliest barvest thanksgivings in in america were observed by the pilgrim fat fathers at plymouth in 1621 congress recommended days of thanksgiving during the revolution and in 1784 for the return of peace as did president denti madison in 1815 washington appointed such a day in 1789 after the adoption of the constitution and in 1795 for the general benefit and welfare of the nation president lincoln in 1863 proclaimed a day of national thanksgiving praise and prayer |