Puritans

A group of radical English Protestants that arose in the late sixteenth century and became a major force in England during the seventeenth century. Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating traces of its origins in the Roman Catholic Church . In addition, they urged a strict moral code and placed a high value on hard work ( see work ethic ). After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, they controlled the new government, the Commonwealth . Oliver Cromwell , who became leader of the Commonwealth, is the best-known Puritan.