Which original colony was established by the Puritans seeking religious freedom?

The original colony established by the Puritans seeking religious freedom is Massachusetts. In the early 17th century, a group of Puritan settlers left England due to persecution and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Their aim was to create a community where they could practice their religious beliefs without interference.

Massachusetts became a significant center for Puritan culture, emphasizing a strict adherence to their interpretation of Christianity and a theocratic government structure where church leaders had considerable influence over civil affairs. This pursuit of a society based on their religious ideals made Massachusetts a crucial location in the history of colonial America, particularly in relation to religious freedom and the subsequent development of other colonies.

Other options, while relevant in terms of colonial history, do not specifically align with the primary goal of Puritan settlers in seeking refuge from religious persecution. For instance, New York was primarily established as a trading outpost, Connecticut was settled by a mix of Puritans and dissenters seeking broader land and governance freedom, and Pennsylvania was established by Quakers for their own religious freedom.