Which group wanted to reform the Church of England and shaped early America's character?

The Puritans were a significant group in early American history that sought to reform the Church of England. They emerged in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, advocating for a more pure form of worship and church governance, free from what they perceived as the corrupt practices of the Anglican Church. Their desire for a "purer" form of Christianity led them to emigrate to New England in the early 1600s, where they established communities based on their religious ideals.

The influence of Puritan ideology was profound in shaping early American values, particularly those surrounding moral conduct, work ethic, and community responsibility. They emphasized a covenantal relationship with God, which fostered a sense of collective purpose and accountability that would be foundational in American culture.

In contrast, the Anglicans, as adherents of the Church of England, maintained the established church's practices and doctrines and were not driven by a desire for reform. Catholics, while also present in early America, were not primarily focused on reforming the Church of England, and the Quakers, known for their unique beliefs about peace and equality, did not share the same goals regarding the Anglican Church as the Puritans did. Thus, the Puritans are recognized