who were the puritans?

The Puritans were a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England from practices associated with the Roman Catholic Church, which they believed had not been fully reformed. They emphasized strict religious purity, moral earnestness, and a covenant relationship with God, holding Calvinist theological views such as predestination. While most Puritans remained within the Church of England aiming to reform it internally, some separated entirely. They played a significant role in both English and early American history, with many emigrating to America to establish colonies based on their religious ideals, such as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their religious life centered around the Bible, simple worship, and a strong sense of personal and community piety.