Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
The story of Congress’s 1780 Thanksgiving proclamation merges with the story of a famous traitor, Benedict Arnold. He fought on the American side at Saratoga, but later defected to the British. In 1780, Arnold informed the British that George Washington and his French allies were headed to Canada. Washington, however, had suspected a leak, and he used the Canada story as a cover for his real plan. He actually wanted to divert British troops to Canada, and then to attack their remaining forces in New York City.

Later, Arnold learned that the American and French armies actually planned to attack New York. Several times, he urged British action to capture General Washington. The British, however, did not move quickly enough. When Americans caught one of Arnold’s conspirators, they also discovered Arnold’s treasonous documents. Arnold was found out, and George Washington lived.

Later that year, Congress set aside December 7, 1780 as a day of Thanksgiving. The people gave God their “devout and thankful acknowledgements, more especially in the late remarkable interposition of his watchful providence, in rescuing the person of our Commander in Chief and the army from imminent dangers, at the moment when treason was ripened for execution.”⁴

Our Founders clearly saw the hand of God in the course of our nation. I’m Mike Farris.