Final answer:
The founders of the Plymouth Colony, known as pilgrims, were English Separatists seeking religious freedom who established their community based on their own religious principles and ideals of self-government with the signing of the Mayflower Compact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The founders of the Plymouth Colony were called pilgrims because they were part of a group of English Separatists who sought to break away completely from the Church of England, which they saw as corrupt. In search of religious freedom, they aimed to establish a new society based on their own religious principles. The Pilgrims, unlike the founders of Jamestown who were motivated by economic gain, were led by William Bradford and left England to live in the Netherlands before eventually deciding to settle in the New World. Their voyage aboard the Mayflower led them to land in Plymouth, where they formed the Mayflower Compact, a foundational document that emphasized both their religious motives and their commitment to creating a communal government founded upon their collective values and the consent of the governed.
In contrast with the economic motives of other colonies such as Jamestown, the Pilgrims' journey to the New World was deeply rooted in their desire to find a place where they could practice their religion freely, away from the influence of the Church of England. The signing of the Mayflower Compact is a significant moment, as it was not only a religious document but also held important political implications with its emphasis on democracy and self-government. This set a precedent for self-rule that influenced the governance structures of future colonies in New England.