English religious and political reformers who fled their native land in search of religious freedom, and settled and colonized New England in the 17th century.

The Puritans were members of the Church of England who wanted to complete the reformation of the doctrines and structure of the church that had begun during the Reformation. They sought to eliminate every shred of Catholic influence, and thought that the Church of England had not gone far enough in purging the structure of hierarchy that they saw as on of the main flaws of Catholicism. During the early 17th century, many Puritans emigrated to the New World, where they established the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which they hoped would serve as example to their brethren in England. It is important to note that Puritans wanted to reform the church at home, and did not seek to abandon it as did the Separatists of the Plimoth Colony.

A group of Calvinist Fundamentalists who loved the idea of religious freedom so much that they couldn't be bothered to share it with anyone else.