Why did Pilgrims want to come to America?

Answer 1

ANSWER:

The battle over religion in England is one of the major reasons the Pilgrims sailed to America. Before the rule of Henry VIII, the Roman Catholic Church had control over the English when it came to worshipping, and the teaching of religion. In 1533, when Henry wanted to divorce his wife Catherine, after 20 years of marriage, and remarry. The Pope in Rome, refused to grant Henry the divorce. So, Henry broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, and established himself as the head of the English Catholic Church, and granted himself the divorce.

Henry's break was with the Pope, not with the church. In other words, he kept all the Roman Catholic ceremonies-including the Latin Mass-while rejecting the Pope's right to govern English Catholics. Under Henry's son Edward, however, the situation changed. The Church of England became more Protestant and less Catholic.

After King Edward died at the age of 14, his half-sister Mary ascended to the throne. During her brief reign of about 5 years, Mary tried to bring back Catholicism to England. Upon her death in 1558, Mary was succeeded to the throne by her half-sister Elizabeth, a Protestant. From this came the Separatists, that would be called Puritans. They disagreed with certain policies and rules and left the Church of England. However, under Elizabeth, the Church of England was established by law.

The government considered Separatists dangerous. It broke up their meetings and hanged their leaders for treason. Many Separatists began fleeing to the more tolerant atmosphere of Holland. But after some years, they grew dissatisfied with the life there as well.

They decided that they could preserve their holiness and their church only in a community built by themselves. So, they decided to start a new life, and migrate to the wilderness of North America.

Answer 2

• Pilgrims come to America to escape religious persecution

Answer 3

Because their king would only let them worship the way he wanted them to worship. They came to America so that they could worship in any way they wanted to worship.

Answer 4

They made the voyage to America to find new land and see what it's like.

Answer 5

for religous freedom