The Puritans were one of four main religious groups in England in 1600's. They believed that the English Church had been pulled away from the church model presented in the Bible. They also believed that by working with the English Church, they could change and reform it, or, purify it. This is where the puritans got their name. The Puritans are often confused with the Pilgrims, and for good reason. The Pilgrims and the Puritans were both nonconformist religious groups in England during the 1600's.
When one looks closely at the original intent of the Puritans, compared to that of the Pilgrims, it is apparent that the Puritans never wanted to leave England. The Pilgrims, on the other hand, were separatists. The Pilgrims intent was to break from the Church of England and start their own church in the New World. After many unsuccessful attempts by the Puritans to purify the church, and after undergoing much persecution, they decided that it was no longer an option to simply purify the Church of England. It was their decision to move to America, and use it as a model of what they thought would be the ideal church. In 1630 John Winthrop brought 1,000 Puritans to Boston Harbor. This would be that start of the Puritan migration to America. Over the next few decades, not only Puritans, but many other religious and adventurous groups migrated to America. The Puritans should be remembered along with the Pilgrims. It is important, however, to note the differences between the two groups.
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