He was in charge of it until he got hurt and had to go back home. The pilgrims first asked Captain John Smith to be their guide before they left England.Ĭaptain John Smith helped start Jamestown. The Plymouth Colony and Jamestown are often told that they are not connected, but actually, they are. It also became the first one to use a majority vote. The Plymouth colony turned out to become the first European settlement that was permanent in New England. They were leaders in the Plymouth colony. Two of their members, William Brewster and William Bradford, would go on to have a significant influence over American history. They did this by starting congregations in areas around Scrooby. The group of people was led by a group of pastors who were challenging the authority of the Church. In the 17th century, they became known as Pilgrims. Separatists were people who did not want to obey the king. These separatists wanted to replace these bishops with people of their choosing. They hated bishops and archbishops because they were rich and corrupt. They did not want to have a middleman between them and God in the Bible. Separatists wanted a different way of being religious. From these new congregations came many other types of Protestant denominations like Baptists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists. The more radical ones left the Church of England and became Separatists, who had their congregations. These people who wanted to reform the Church of England became known as Puritans. It was an unhealthy concentration of power. Some of the pilgrims felt that having a king as head of the church and state was bad. They also wanted to reduce the influence of the church’s hierarchy and bring their teachings closer to New Testament principles. The Catholic practices were too close, so they had to change them. In the view of Pilgrims, the Church of England needed to simplify its rituals. The Pilgrims Facts: Puritans and Other Reformers

This Protestant congregation was led by Francis Johnson. When the Separatists settled in Amsterdam, they met another group of English Separatists called the Ancient Brethren. People who were not Anglicans and believed differently than the King was seen as a threat. They could worship their religion and not be killed for it. In Holland, people would have a chance to start new lives. But they also hoped that in Holland, all would be well.

They were afraid because the Reformation in England was tough. When the Pilgrims traveled, they felt fear and hope. When these refugees left England, they were called Pilgrims. Francis Johnson led this Protestant congregation and passed them from one person to the next until they were all on board. They were going to live in another country. On a night in 1607, a group of people left the English village of Scrooby. The Pilgrims Facts: First Trip to Holland These pilgrims got help from the Virginia Company and boarded the Mayflower in 1620 to go to America. The laws in the Netherlands were more flexible than where they came from.Īfter many years, they were afraid of losing their language and culture and decided to move to America and start a new life. People wanted to be able to practice their religion freely, so many people left the Netherlands. Keep reading to learn more pilgrims facts.

People wanted religious freedom, and they thought they would find it in America. These original settlers are called the Pilgrim Fathers or simply the Pilgrims.ĭuring the Renaissance, England required its citizens to belong to the Church of England.A group was sent out, and they landed at Plymouth Harbor, where they had found a place to live.They landed on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, in November 1620.One hundred of them sailed from England on the Mayflower.Some people wanted to find religious freedom in the New World.The Pilgrims Facts: Puritans and Other Reformers.The Pilgrims Facts: First Trip to Holland.

Pilgrims and puritans