Massachusetts 7

During the 16th century, Puritans aimed to reform the Church of England by replacing Catholic rituals with simpler Calvinist practices. They undermined royal authority and sought to create a religious community in the New World. In 1620, a group known as the Pilgrims left for Virginia but landed in New England, where they drafted the Mayflower Compact to establish a self-governing society. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1630 by Puritans led by John Winthrop, who envisioned a "city upon a hill" to exemplify their faith. They governed under a charter that gave power to the General Court made up of Puritan men. Dissenters like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were banished, leading to the founding of Rhode Island for religious freedom. Other Puritans began moving to Connecticut and further north for better land and opportunities.