Early colonists sailed to America seeking better lives: many of them wanted freedom and political liberty to govern themselves without European tyrants. Religious freedom drew Pilgrims and Puritans escaping Church of England persecution, while others tried to find economic opportunity through land ownership and trade. Some Europeans tried to escape religious wars, poverty, and oppression.
Section "Learn and Explore" uses official instructions and media files of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian Institution and other governmental and public organization.