WTK History Lessons

2211, 2023

First National Day of Thanksgiving
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First National Day of Thanksgiving

WTK Featured Stories, WTK History Lessons

First National Day of Thanksgiving

First National Day of Thanksgiving on Thursday, December 18, 1777

1802, 2022

The Story of Presidents’ Day – By Daniel Sheridan
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The Story of Presidents’ Day – By Daniel Sheridan

Daniel Sheridan, WTK History Lessons

The Story of Presidents’ Day – By Daniel Sheridan

"To the memory of the Man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." These are the words of Henry Lee upon the death of our first President, George Washington. Americans throughout the 1800s, cherishing those words, unofficially and spontaneously celebrated the Father of their Country's birthday every February 22, his actual birthday. President Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1879, signed a law making the day an official holiday, and it became a national federal holiday in 1885, known simply as Washington's Birthday. The holiday has changed in two ways since President Hayes signed it [...]

3101, 2022

The Land of Lincoln and the Thirteenth Amendment – by Daniel W. Sheridan
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The Land of Lincoln and the Thirteenth Amendment – by Daniel W. Sheridan

Daniel Sheridan, WTK History Lessons

The Land of Lincoln and the Thirteenth Amendment – by Daniel W. Sheridan

Listen Now! #OTD, January 31, 1865, Americans make amends as Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment, consistently applying the words of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” I was sharing with my daughter the story of the Thirteenth Amendment since my home state played a significant role in its passage. Illinois instructed its congressional delegation to vote for the Thirteenth Amendment, and President Abraham Lincoln signed it on February 1st. Then the amendment went to the States for ratification. The amendment reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party [...]

2112, 2021