Correct Answer: for freedom of religion.
the correct answer to the question of why the pilgrims came to america is (b) for freedom of religion. the pilgrims, who were also known as separatists, were a group of english protestants who sought to break away from the church of england. the church of england, under the reign of king james i, mandated uniformity in religious practice and punished those who dissented. this led to the persecution of the pilgrims who desired the freedom to worship according to their own beliefs without interference from the government or the established church.
initially, in pursuit of religious freedom, the pilgrims fled to leiden, holland, where they found the liberty to worship independently. however, they eventually became disillusioned with the economic difficulties they faced and the societal influences on their children in holland. concerned about losing their cultural identity and the erosion of their religious values, they decided to seek a new life where they could establish a society rooted in their religious principles and free from external influences.
in 1620, the pilgrims secured passage aboard the ship mayflower and set sail for the new world, aiming to land in virginia. due to navigational errors, they landed at what is now plymouth, massachusetts. here, they established a colony where they could practice their religion freely and govern themselves according to their own laws and principles, which was encapsulated in the mayflower compact – an agreement setting the framework for self-governance in the colony.
thus, the primary motivation for the pilgrims' migration to america was not economic opportunity, the establishment of a new nation, or escaping diseases, but rather the pursuit of a place where they could freely practice their religious beliefs without persecution. this quest for religious freedom is a central theme in the history of the united states and has influenced various other groups in seeking refuge and religious liberty in america.
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