Betsy Sinclair, a political science professor at Washington University, explores the fascinating history of Thanksgiving, focusing on Sarah Hale's relentless 17-year campaign that led Abraham Lincoln to establish it as a national holiday in 1863. Learn how Thanksgiving evolved from regional harvest festivals into a unifying celebration during the Civil War. Sinclair also shares insights into Hale's influence on modern traditions, like turkey and pumpkin pie, and Thanksgiving's potential to foster family connections despite political disagreements.