This video explains the origins of Puritanism as a movement within Protestantism in England, stemming from King Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church and the subsequent establishment of the Church of England. It details the Puritans' specific grievances with the Church of England, focusing on "Free Will" and the "Episcopal form of governance." The video distinguishes between Separatist and Non-Separatist Puritans, noting that the Non-Separatists, who aimed to reform the Church of England from within, are the group primarily associated with the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Crucially, the video argues that the Puritans, contrary to common misconception, did not believe in religious freedom for others, but rather sought to enforce their own beliefs through government power.
