The **Pilgrims** and **Puritans** were two groups of English Protestants who played key roles in the early colonisation of North America, particularly in New England. ### **Pilgrims (Separatists)** - **Who they were**: A radical [[Partisan|faction]] of Puritans who believed the Church of England was corrupt and chose to separate from it entirely. - **Migration**: Fled England for Holland (1608) before sailing to America on the **Mayflower** (1620). - **Settlement**: Founded **Plymouth Colony** (modern-day Massachusetts) and signed the **Mayflower Compact**, an early form of self-[[Government]]. - **Key Figure**: **William Bradford**, longtime governor of Plymouth. - **Famous Event**: The **First Thanksgiving** (1621) with the Wampanoag people. ### **Puritans (Non-Separatists)** - **Who they were**: Protestants who wanted to "purify" the Church of England from within rather than separate. - **Migration**: A larger wave arrived in the 1630s under the **Massachusetts Bay Company**. - **Settlement**: Established the **Massachusetts Bay Colony** (Boston area) with a strict religious [[Society]]. - **Key Figures**: **John Winthrop** (governor), who famously called their colony a **"City upon a Hill."** - **Beliefs**: Predestination, strict moral codes, and communal religious life. ### **Key Differences** - **Separation**: Pilgrims were Separatists; Puritans wanted reform from within. - **Scale**: Puritans were more numerous and influential. - **Governance**: Puritans established a more structured theocracy. Both groups sought religious [[Freedom]] but were often intolerant of dissent (e.g., **Anne Hutchinson**, **Roger Williams**). Their legacies shaped American [[Culture]], emphasising hard work, [[Education]] (Harvard, 1636), and self-governance. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Colonialism]]