Puritan Movement

Definition

The Puritan Movement was a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to "purify" the Church of England from remnants of the Roman Catholic Church practices.

Analogy

Think of the Puritans as a group of friends who love playing a video game but think it has too many unnecessary features. So, they decide to create their own version that's simpler and more focused on what they believe is important.

Related terms

Protestant Reformation: A major 16th-century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Its religious aspects were supplemented by ambitious political rulers who wanted to extend their power and control at the expense of the Church.

Separatists: A group within Puritanism that believed the Church of England was so corrupt it could only be changed through complete separation.

Mayflower Compact: An agreement reached by Pilgrims (a sect within Puritans) during their voyage to New World on Mayflower ship, which established legal order and quelled dissent amongst new settlers.