The Separatists established the Plymouth Colony primarily for religious freedom and the ability to practice their faith without persecution. In the early 17th century, the Separatists, a group of Puritans who sought to break away from the Church of England, faced significant religious oppression in England. They believed that the Church of England was corrupt and that true worship required a separation from it.
To escape this persecution, many Separatists first fled to the Netherlands, but they found the culture there to be too permissive and feared losing their English identity and religious values. This led them to seek a new life in the New World, where they hoped to establish a community based on their religious beliefs.
In 1620, after securing a charter and financial backing from investors, a group of Separatists, known as the Pilgrims, set sail on the Mayflower. Their aim was to create a colony where they could worship freely and establish a society based on their religious principles. They eventually settled in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established the Plymouth Colony. The colony became one of the first successful attempts at permanent settlement by Europeans in New England and played a significant role in early American history.