Who Were the Puritans?

One of the first English colonies to form in North America was Plymouth Colony, established in Massachusetts by the Puritans in 1620.

The colony was established as a place where devout Christians could live free of persecution and practice their faith without fear of censorship or forced conversion to another religion. But who were the Puritans? Where did they settle? When did they come to America?

This post explores these questions and more, so keep reading!

Who Were the Puritans?

Puritanism was a Protestant movement founded by English religious reformer John Calvin in the 1500s. The puritans were deeply religious Protestants who sought to purify the Church of England from what they considered corrupting Catholic rituals and practices.

Where Did the Puritans Settle?

The puritans first settled in England on the Isle of Wight in 1620. In 1630, they migrated to New England in what is now known as Massachusetts.

When Did the Puritans Come to America?

Puritanism is a movement in the Church of England that sought to purify the church of any rituals not found in scripture. In 1606, King James I issued the Book of Sports, which encouraged people to engage in sports on Sunday mornings.

This angered many puritans who believed it was immoral. Many puritans came over during 1620-1640. The first group was led by John Winthrop and they settled in New England where they created the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

What Was Puritanism?

Puritanism was a religious movement in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. The followers of this movement wanted to purify the Church of England from all Catholic rituals. There was a civil war that broke out over this question in the late 16th century known as the English Civil War. The Puritans lost this war but they were not discouraged by their loss.