2
The
Pilgrims
The Pilgrims came to the New World looking for religious freedom. Who were they? Why did
the leaving the relative safety of England? Were they alone in this search for a place to worship
as they wanted? How successful was their goal to establish a colony where they could exercise
the freedom of religion they ultimately wanted.
Who Were They
The Pilgrims journey began many years before coming to America. In the late 1500’s and into
the early 1600’s there was dissension within the Church of England. Groups had various issues
with the church and facing discrimination the Separatists decided to leave England for Holland in
1608.
The Separatists was the term given to groups who dissented with the church. Puritans
were another group similar but not the same as the Pilgrims. The main difference was that the
Pilgrims wanted to have a complete break between church and state, whereas the Puritans
wanted to reform the church from within.
After a few years in the Pilgrims decided the atmosphere in Holland was a little too cosmopolitan
and decided to look for support to move to the New World. After getting organized back in
England a prominent merchant agreed to advance them the money to establish a colony. The
Group had 7 years to repay the loan. The Virginia Company gave them permission to land on the
East Coast between 38- and 41-degrees north latitude. This would put them between the
Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River approximately.
Mission
August 1620 the group set sail in 2 boats the Mayflower and the Speedwell. Almost immediately
the Speedwell and issues and had to turn back so all 102 passengers and 30 crew boarded the
