Thanks of Congress

The Thanks of Congress is like a giant sticker of praise given by the leaders of the United States, called Congress. They give it to brave soldiers and their leaders when they win big battles or do something super impressive. It started a long, long time ago, even before your grandparents were born, during the American Revolutionary War. It's a way for everyone to say 'Great job!'.

While the 'Thanks of Congress' happened during many wars, it was like a super-duper popular award during the American Civil War. That was a very difficult time in American history. Imagine if your whole school had to give out special awards for bravery and smart thinking. That's kind of what Congress did, but for the whole country!

Guess what? Even the other side during the Civil War had their own way of saying 'thank you' for great actions! The Confederate Congress also passed special notes to honor people or groups who did an extraordinary job. So, even though they were fighting, they still recognized amazing bravery and skill.

Getting a 'Thanks of Congress' was a really big deal. It meant that the leaders of the country thought you were super brave and did a fantastic job. It was like getting the biggest, shiniest gold star in the whole universe for your hard work and courage. It showed everyone that your actions made a big difference.