Newcomers Newcomers to to

America:America:

Seeking Seeking First Amendment First Amendment

FreedomsFreedoms

What are “pilgrims”?What are “pilgrims”?

What do you What do you know about know about the reason the reason “pilgrims” “pilgrims” came to came to America?America?

We know some of the earliest pilgrims We know some of the earliest pilgrims migrated to America looking for freedom migrated to America looking for freedom

to practice their religious beliefs.to practice their religious beliefs.

Do you remember the parts of the Do you remember the parts of the First Amendment, protecting freedom of First Amendment, protecting freedom of

religion?religion?

Read aloud Read aloud the passages the passages protecting protecting freedom freedom of religion…of religion…

Summarize, Summarize, in your own in your own words, what words, what kinds of kinds of activities are activities are protected?protected?

Did other types of “pilgrims” Did other types of “pilgrims” come to America later?come to America later?

A pilgrim isn’t just someone who A pilgrim isn’t just someone who came to America on the came to America on the

Mayflower…Mayflower…

A “pilgrim” is anyone who A “pilgrim” is anyone who undertakes undertakes

a “pilgrimage”- a “pilgrimage”- a journey to a place, often a journey to a place, often

traveling a very far distance.traveling a very far distance.

Over the years, many pilgrims have Over the years, many pilgrims have come come

to America for many reasons…to America for many reasons…

Some Jewish people came from Europe and Some Jewish people came from Europe and Russia because they could not worship freely Russia because they could not worship freely

there…there…

Some came because they could not Some came because they could not speak freely or write what they speak freely or write what they

thought…thought…

Some came from Asia because they Some came from Asia because they were denied rights to petition their were denied rights to petition their

governments governments for change…for change…

Whatever Whatever the reason, the reason, the First the First Amendment’Amendment’s protections s protections drew many drew many “pilgrims” “pilgrims” to a new to a new home in the home in the United United States…States…

So, every year when we celebrate So, every year when we celebrate Thanksgiving and the “pilgrims” Thanksgiving and the “pilgrims”

migration migration to the New World in search of to the New World in search of

freedom of religion…freedom of religion…

……we can remember the many other we can remember the many other “pilgrimages” made by immigrants “pilgrimages” made by immigrants

over 200 years, over 200 years, seeking First Amendment liberties.seeking First Amendment liberties.

Newcomers Newcomers to to

AmericaAmerica

Created for FOI Created for FOI OklahomaOklahoma