Episode Two: The First Thanksgiving, Fact versus Myth dismantles the beloved story of Pilgrims and Indians sharing a peaceful feast by examining the scant historical evidence that actually exists. With only two brief primary sources mentioning the sixteen twenty-one gathering, this episode reveals how almost everything Americans believe about the First Thanksgiving is speculation or invention. From debunking the modern menu of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie to exposing the power dynamics and diplomatic calculations behind the three-day event, the episode centers Wampanoag perspectives that have been systematically erased. It traces how this ordinary harvest celebration was transformed into a founding myth two centuries later and examines the devastating aftermath of King Philip's War that betrayed the alliance formed at that original gathering.
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