Which group of settlers sought to purify the Church of England and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony?

The group of settlers that sought to purify the Church of England and ultimately established the Massachusetts Bay Colony were the Puritans. Originating in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Puritans believed that the Church of England needed to be reformed and purified of practices they deemed too closely aligned with Catholicism.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded in 1630, was established as a refuge for Puritans who were escaping religious persecution in England. They aimed to create a "city upon a hill," serving as a model of Christian integrity and governance. Their emphasis on a strict moral code, community governance, and education—essentially establishing a theocratic society focused on their particular interpretation of Christianity—was central to the identity of the colony.

The other groups listed had different motivations and beliefs. The Pilgrims, for instance, were a separatist group that aimed to completely break away from the Church of England rather than reform it and established Plymouth Colony. Anglicans maintained allegiance to the Church of England and operated within its structure without seeking purification. Quakers, known for their belief in inner light and religious tolerance, established colonies like Pennsylvania and were often at odds with more dogmatic groups such as the Pur