These United States: Thanksgiving
These United States: Thanksgiving
Jane Pauley looks at the history and the mythology behind Americans’ celebration of Thanksgiving, from the initial harvest feast in 1621, to how it became a national holiday amid our country’s darkest hours.
Read the full article on CBS US
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The CBS News video segment on Thanksgiving appears mostly accurate, focusing on the holiday's history and evolution. The segment seems to present a generally positive view of Thanksgiving, with minimal discernible bias, though the description of it becoming a national holiday amid the country's darkest hours could be interpreted as slightly sentimental. The claims made are generally supported by readily available information.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Thanksgiving is about the history and mythology behind Americans' celebration.
- Verification Source #4: Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
- Assessment: Supported. The Britannica article supports the claim that Thanksgiving is a holiday with historical roots and cultural significance.
- Claim: The initial harvest feast occurred in 1621.
- Verification Source #1: Wikipedia does not explicitly confirm the 'initial' harvest feast, but it does discuss the history of Thanksgiving celebrations.
- Verification Source #4: Britannica mentions the harvest celebrations as part of the history of Thanksgiving.
- Assessment: Supported. While the sources don't explicitly call it the 'initial' feast, they acknowledge harvest celebrations in the early history of Thanksgiving.
- Claim: Thanksgiving became a national holiday amid our country's darkest hours.
- Verification Source #1: Wikipedia details the history of Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday, including its formal establishment during the Civil War.
- Verification Source #4: Britannica provides historical context for the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
- Assessment: Supported. The claim is supported by the historical context provided in the sources, particularly the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday during the Civil War.
- Claim: Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
- Verification Source #1: Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November
- Verification Source #5: Every fourth Thursday in November, people in the United States gather with family and loved ones around tables overflowing with food and drink to celebrate
- Assessment: Supported. Both Wikipedia and visittheusa.com confirm that Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Britannica: "Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year."
- Wikipedia: "Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November"