Pilgrims vs. Puritans Many People have been confused over America’s first colonies of people. The Pilgrims and Puritans have been head of many arguments that have happened in this country. Many people are familiar with the pilgrims, but the Puritans are not people that are heard of as often. They are two separate groups of people. The difference between pilgrims and puritans were very distinct from the ways they lived their lives to how they practiced their religions. Major differences stemmed from each groups’ views on separation of church and state. Both have some similarities that can confuse people but we are going to focus on what sets them apart. Despite their similarities, and the fact that they arrived in America within a decade of …show more content…
They came to America to practice religion as they pleased. They were considered non-separating Congregationalists. This meant that they believed the Church of England was the one true church and they were loyal to England, but not in the way they worshipped. “They believed that “New England” worships and practice would be an example for Old England and the world.” (Petro, 2012). They had the intent to form a church state government that did not include England’s practices the setters disagreed with. “As time passed, puritan leaders came to realize they not only lost their battle to “purify” the Church of England, but their intentions to form a church-state government in America had also failed.” (Bembry, par.15). Puritans allowed their religious beliefs to dictate their home lives. Their home lives imitated their church lives. From the church’s standpoint, puritans were to recognize a “supreme” leader and all their life was to be centered around that leader. “In keeping with this philosophy in their homes, the men ran their households as if they were “supreme” leaders reigning over their families.” (Bembry, par. 2). “Puritan fathers read to and taught their families in accordance with views of the church. In their belief, their teachings and traditions were necessary in order to improve moral society.” (Bembry, par.3) It was the Puritan father’s job to teach their wives and children to listen, to believe, and to obey. Wives and children were not encouraged to think, to question, or to act in nonconforming manners. The Puritans were considered to be well educated and were primarily a part of the upper middle class. Over 100 of the first group of Puritans to arrive to American had been educated at Oxford or Cambridge. Within six years of landing in America, they founded the first college, which was Harvard, in Cambridge (Boston). The Puritans had