Virginia’s Thanksgiving Legacy: Uncovering America’s True Origins Four Months Later

This year, the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving in New England prompts a deeper examination of America’s origins. Although the traditional narrative highlights perseverance and cooperation, events that unfolded four months later in 1622 reveal a more complex and troubling chapter. Located approximately 600 miles south of Plymouth, the uneasy dynamics between English settlers and Indigenous peoples tell a different story—one marked by distrust and violence.

Historically, the Pilgrims have been celebrated as resilient figures overcoming severe challenges. Their survival through the harsh winter of 1620-1621, aided by a devastating epidemic that significantly reduced the Indigenous population, has become lore. The fall harvest of 1621 culminated in a feast shared with the Wampanoag people. This event is often framed as the origin of the American Thanksgiving, although similar celebrations predated it, including one by Spanish settlers in Florida in 1565.

As Thanksgiving became institutionalized in the 19th century, promoting narratives tied to the Mayflower Compact and religious freedom, the broader context of colonization faded from public consciousness. U.S. presidents have annually echoed the Pilgrims’ narrative in proclamations, solidifying their role in the mythic account of America’s founding.

Contrastingly, the experiences of settlers in Virginia present a diverging tale. Since the establishment of Jamestown in 1607, English colonists faced staggering challenges. Their dependence on the local Indigenous populations was crucial to survival, as they struggled with sanitation issues and food shortages. The introduction of tobacco cultivation brought economic success, yet the need for land expansion increasingly strained relations with Indigenous groups.

The peace that once existed began to unravel with the death of Wahunsonacock, the Powhatan leader. His successor, Opechancanough, adopted a more confrontational stance toward the English settlers. On March 22, 1622, he launched a surprise attack, resulting in the deaths of 347 English colonists. This incident spurred fear and outrage in England, with officials labeling Indigenous peoples as “savages” and vowing revenge.

The brutal retaliation against the Powhatans marked a turning point in colonial-Indigenous relations. Over the next decade, English forces waged a ruthless campaign to suppress Indigenous resistance, often targeting food sources and settlements. These violent encounters set a tragic precedent, reflecting a broader pattern of conflict between European settlers and Indigenous populations across North America.

As tensions escalated, the legacy of cooperation celebrated in Plymouth would be overshadowed by ongoing violence and dispossession. By 1675, conflicts erupted in New England that further marred the positive associations of the 1621 feast. Indigenous voices, such as that of Aquinnah Wampanoag elder Wamsutta, have since sought to reclaim the narrative surrounding Thanksgiving, emphasizing loss and mourning in their remembrance.

Today’s Thanksgiving, often accompanied by crafts and communal stories, obscures the harsh realities faced by Indigenous communities during early colonial encounters. Rather than a simple narrative of gratitude, the history surrounding this holiday underscores a complex legacy that includes resistance, resilience, and the ongoing impacts of colonization.