The myth: The Pilgrims escaped the religious intolerance of Europe to establish freedom in the New World.
The truth: Frustrated with the Church of England the future Pilgrims left England for Amsterdam, but fear of their children becoming too Dutch led to their departure for America.
Once here, Non-Puritans, from Quakers to Catholics, were outlawed from the colonies and voting rights were based on membership in a Puritan church. Early state laws banned Jews, and Christians that did not renounce papal authority, from public office.
It wasn’t until the founding fathers established a separation of church and state (an idea that had gotten Roger Williams banned from Massachusetts) that the concept of religious freedom began to take hold.
Source: Business Insider