American Colonists

Definition

The American colonists were people who left their native countries, primarily England, to settle in what is now the United States during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Related terms

Pilgrims: These were early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. They came over on the Mayflower seeking religious freedom.

Puritans: A religious group that wanted to purify the Church of England from within. Many migrated to America in the early 17th century and settled in New England.

Loyalists/Tories: These were American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.