Why did the puritans and the pilgrims colonize Massachusetts?

Answer 1

to escape poor economic conditions in England and avoid persecution

The main reason the Puritans chose Mass. was because of Boston Harbor. That's where the Pilgrims made their big mistake, by choosing Plymouth as their building site and not the Boston area. History would have been written a lot differently if they had. They left England for Mass. to escape religious and political oppression. When the monarchy was reestablished in England the Puritans were on the losing side. So they went to the colonies and started over. The Boston area was the ideal spot.

Answer 2

They founded it because they believed there was a need to reform or "purify" the Anglican church. When the Church of England rejected their ideas they moved to the Netherlands but found that their children were slipping away from their strict faith so they decided to go to the New World, where they could establish a colony of their own, and be free to observe their faith. The Puritans hoped that the Massachusetts Bay Colony would set an example for how true Christianity should be practiced.

Answer 3

The Puritans left to be able to practice their religion. They did not believe in the rituals and decorations of the Church of England. The people who left were from one small town in England and were about 60 people out of the 102 on the ship. One interesting fact is that on the ship were two little girls who father was getting a divorce from their mother. He sent them alone on the ship as revenge. The girls did not live through the first winter.

Answer 4

The answer below is wrong. They didn't know about Boston or the harbor it hadn't been settled yet. They were going to Virginia when the ship was blown off course and the landed on the Massachusetts coast at an abandoned Native American village. Also there were not thousands. But 60 people from the same village. None faced poor economic conditions and they were mainly farmers that were fairly well off.

Answer 5

To exercise religious freedom without interference from any government.

Answer 6

The main reason why Puritans started the Massachusetts Colony was to separate from the Angelic Church; to start a new religion.