to secure religious freedom
To escape religious persecution.
to escape from religious persecution
so they could live somewhere "English"
Religious persecution
The pilgrims were separatists who left England for freedom of religion.
The pilgrims left them there on the way to America
The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, for America on the Mayflower on September 16, 1620.
They landed in 1620 and never left.
The Pilgrims left England and fled to America because the king of England at the time had not been lenient to those who opposed the church of England, so they left to America to freely practice their religion.
They weren't "sent" by anyone. The pilgrims left for America in order to achieve religious freedom. (I am assuming that you are referring to the pilgrims that settled the Plymouth Colony)
People, pee-hee-hee!
Because of religious persecution in England, the Pilgrims moved to Holland in 1607 to 1608. The Pilgrims were also called Separatists because they left the Church of England. From Holland, they voyaged to America in 1620.