Pilgrims, Puritans, and Separatists (Calvinist Settlers in Colonial New England)

For More Resources on Colonial America, visit my website:

We typically use three words to describe the settlers in Colonial New England: Pilgrims, Puritans, and Separatists. Since these settlers were all English Calvinists with similar religious beliefs, the differences can sometimes confuse US History students.

The Pilgrims were the settlers that founded the Plymouth Colony in 1620 after their voyage on the Mayflower. This is the only group of New England colonists who are referred to as Pilgrims, but anyone who makes a religious journey can be referred to as a pilgrim.

Puritans were English Calvinists who sought to reform, or purify, the Church of England. Separatists were English Calvinists who sought to separate from the Church of England, which they felt was beyond reform.

The Pilgrims were Separatists.

This video should be helpful to US History students, including those preparing for the AP US History exam.

[giannis]

The MASSIVE part scared the shit out of me

[yagmurtaymaz]

I am at the library why would you put in that jumpscare 😭😭😭

[MrABedRules]

After watching your video i have found the differences between these three groups of people. Thank you for this comprehensible and explicit video lesson.

[harpato]

I spent so long getting so much info on google and didn't know how to piece it together, thank you so much!

[michaelpisciarino]

*Pilgrims, Puritans, and Separatists*
1:02 What is a A Pilgrimage?
A: _A Journey for a Religious Purpose_

0:40 The Pilgrims
- The Settlers who landed the Plymouth Colony in 1620
- (The people of The Mayflower and The Mayflower Compact)
- It's just what we call them, (they are not the only Pilgrims to ever Pilgrim)

1:39 Puritans vs Separatists

2:03 Calvinism, founded by John Calvin
2:36 Henry VIII, Divorce from Anne Boelyn

3:17 Puritans want to *Purify* The Church of England
3:54 The Separatists want to _Separate_ from The Church of England

4:36 Let's Review
Puritans want Purity and Purification of The Church of England
Separatists wanted to abandon and Separate from The Church of England

[cntra]

bro i am a freshman in high school why am I on a 3rd grade nostalgia trip

[unknownbrother]

2:17 ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK, RICHEY!! GEEZ! Still a great video though

[BlueSkyCountry]

The lantern that the lady in the thumbnail is holding would not be introduced until the latter part of the 19th century. In Colonial times, they had candle lanterns and olive/whale oil teacup lamps.

[Absolution_mel]

"MASSIVE" gave me a fucking shit attack bro

[danhalverson]

What does liking bacon have to do with anything ?

[SodaPrezsing]

Also fun fact, the Separatists were controlled by the Sith to start a galactic war that would destroy the Jedi

[christinajackson]

such a cool video. Now i finally understand the differences of these confusing terms

[BlueKentuckyGirl]

Great video, but as a former "professional pilgrim" at Plimoth Plantation I have spent a quarter-century debunking the idea that I was shocked to hear ypu espouse - that the Plimoth Separatists and the Massachusetts Bay Puritans adopted the same style and (argh!) mode of dress. This is simply not true. Many Separatists had worked as wool merchants and their colorful clothing is testament of that to this very day at Plimoth Plantation. I urge you to search for some images of the interpreters at work.

Although the traditional image of the square collared and shoebuckled, black and white clothing is obviously rodiculous, given the enormous expense involved in producing textiles in such a deeply saturated color, it os true that the Puritans were more given to muted blues, grays and browns.

The separatists arrived with, and lived among, as many adherents to the CofE as their pwn numbers, having actually made the journey to preserve the "Englishness" of their offspring they felt was being eroded in religiously indifferent Holland.

They were headed to the northern part of the land owned by The Virginia Company, by now 10 years occupied and beginning to thrive from its center in Jamestown. Jamestown.

[LoveLove-gwtd]

Can you make a video on why the pilgrims left England and which religion they believed in?

[JohnnyBlaze]

what is the 86 no likes for? this is a great video! Well done Mr Richey from Atl, Ga

[LauraMonteros]

Very helpful! While this is basically what I thought, the explanation was clear. Essentially, the differences involved polity rather than theology.

[Zayveon_Castell]

What did Henry VIII had to do with Puritans, Pilgrims(not really) and separatists?

[evandavis]

Very helpful! But Henry VIII did not seek a divorce - he wanted an Annulment (the Roman Catholic Church has never recognized divorce).

[gregorylico]

Always one of my favorite topics in American history to study.

[greenstar]

Ok for a first grade class…
Sooo what how and why did these two groups differ…