Answer: To escape religious persecution
Explanation: When the Puritans and Separatists came to America, they came during King James I and King Charles I reign in England. Both kings were hostile to the Puritans and Separatists as they were trying to purify or separate from the Church of England. Both Kings followed this church and viewed their differing opinions as a threat. Therefore, the Puritans and Separatists fled to North America to avoid religious persecution.