matters laid down by the law, then he may be granted citizenship. Before he can become a citizen, however, the law says that he must take the following oath: I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely The oath, in easier words, is as follows: I give my word that I give up completely the government of which I have up to this time. been a citizen or a subject. I will give my support to the Constitution and to the laws of the United States. I will obey them. I will help to keep this country safe from dangers within or from without. I will help the United States in time of war. No person When I say this I made me take this oath. am keeping nothing back. I have said is true. God knows that all The Immigration and Nationality Act permits, under certain circumstances, the taking of the oath without these clauses. After the oath has been taken, the judge signs the order granting naturalization, and the new citizen is given a certificate of naturalization. This is the official paper that shows that the petitioner is now a citizen of his new nation, the country of his choice. Persons interested in becoming naturalized citizens of the United States should apply to the nearest office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. THINGS TO DO Questions to discuss in your study groups: 1. Name two groups of which you are a member. Can any person join these groups? If not, then tell the reasons why it cannot be done. 2. Do you think that any person who wishes should be able to join a group of doctors? Why or why not? 3. Name two qualifications which the members of the following groups must have: a. Policemen. b. Postmen. c. Store clerks. 4. Explain what is meant by the statement that "the United States is a Republic. 5. Who has the authority to lay down the rules that must be followed by a person who wants to become a citizen? 6. Why should a person want to become a citizen of the United States? Complete each of the following: 1. Four things which a person must prove in order to be naturalized are: a. b. C. d. 410-744 O 71 - 2 2. The steps which a person usually must take in order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States are: a. b. C. 3. Study the oath of allegiance which a person must take when he is naturalized. promises by his oath are: a. b. C. Three things which he CHAPTER III How Our Nation Was Started "America was a great land when Columbus discovered it; Americans have made it a great nation." -Lyman Abbott. When we live in groups we must have authority, purpose, and organization. We must work with other groups. We must follow rules which the members of the group have approved as wise. The authority and purposes of our Federal Government are written into the Constitution of the United States. Also, the principles of our Government are found in the Constitution. Our Government follows those principles in its work. We cannot understand our Government unless we know the history and meaning of those principles. Why did the Makers of the Constitution accept some rules and refuse to accept other rules? We shall study the early history of our Government and learn the reasons. WHY THE COLONISTS CAME TO AMERICA Many colonies were started in America, but some of them did not last. Most of the colonists had come from England. It was their mother country. The King of England was their ruler. Each colony was settled by colonists who came for a purpose. The purpose was not the same in all of the colonies. The colonists in Virginia came to trade. They cut lumber and grew tobacco for sale. The Pilgrims and Puritans, who settled in what is now Massachusetts, came to be free in their way of worship. The Quakers came 15 to Pennsylvania and the Roman Catholics came to Maryland for the same purpose. The Dutch came to trade. They settled in New York. The Swedes and Finns came to Delaware and New Jersey in order to enjoy more freedom. The French colonists settled in Canada and the Spanish colonists settled in Florida. They wanted to trade with the Indians and to teach them the ways of the white man. RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN One by one the colonies of other nations came under the control of Great Britain. In 1776 there were thirteen British colonies in that part of America that became the United States. These thirteen colonies later became the first thirteen states. The British people had a King, but they elected representatives who helped make the laws. The lawmaking body was called the Parliament. The people could always tell the lawmakers if they did not like the laws. Sometimes the people were able to have the laws changed. The King and the Parliament governed the colonies in America. The King let the colonies elect representatives who made some of the local laws. But he sent governors to most of the colonies to carry out the laws of Great Britain. They collected the King's taxes on goods that the colonists brought in from other countries. The colonists were free in many ways. For more than a hundred years they did not say very much against the King and the Parliament. GREAT BRITAIN FIGHTS A WAR In 1754 there was a change. A war began between the British colonists and the French. But it was not until 1756 that Great Britain and France actually declared war. In America, the French and the British colonists, each with their Indian allies, helped their mother countries. The war was called the French and Indian War. The British soldiers and the colonists put up a good |