Discover the history and beliefs of the Puritans who settled in America, explained in simple terms for 11-year-olds. Learn about their journey, values, and impact on American culture.
The Puritans were a group of people who believed in a very strict and serious form of Christianity. They lived in England in the 1600s, and they wanted to make their religion simpler and more pure than what they thought was happening in the Church of England.
Many Puritans felt that the Church of England had too many rules and decorations, so they decided to leave and find a new place where they could practice their beliefs freely. In 1620, a group of Puritans, known as the Pilgrims, set sail on a ship called the Mayflower and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to a new land, which we now call America.
When they arrived, they settled in an area that is now part of Massachusetts. The place they landed was called Plymouth. The first winter was very tough, and many of the Puritans got sick or died from the cold and lack of food. However, with the help of Native Americans, who taught them how to farm and fish, they learned how to survive.
The Puritans had strict rules about how to live and believe. They valued hard work, reading the Bible, and worshipping God. They also believed that everyone should lead a good life and follow the rules they set up in their community.
Over time, many more Puritans moved to America, and they set up colonies where they could govern themselves and practice their religion as they wanted. Their ideas about hard work, education, and community influenced many things in American culture, even today.
So, the Puritans were important early settlers who sought freedom for their beliefs, and their journey has a lasting legacy in the history of America.