Puritans were persecuted for their beliefs in England, and many of them fled to the Netherlands and America in the 17th century. In America, they founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. The Puritans built a theocratic society in Massachusetts, and they imposed their religious beliefs on the entire colony. They believed that their colony was a "city on a hill," a model for other communities to follow.
Puritans were very influential in American culture and society. Their beliefs and values helped to shape the development of the United States, and their legacy can still be seen today in many American institutions and traditions.