Who were the group of settlers that sought to purify the Church of England and believed in predestination?

The settlers who sought to purify the Church of England and believed in predestination were the Puritans. This religious group emerged in the late 16th and 17th centuries and aimed to reform the Anglican Church from within by eliminating remnants of Catholicism and implementing a more austere worship and lifestyle. The Puritans believed in the concept of predestination, which is the idea that God has already determined who will be saved and who will be damned, a notion that significantly shaped their theology and lifestyle.

Their focus on a strict moral code, the importance of scripture, and communal responsibilities were central to Puritan communities, leading to the establishment of several colonies in New England where they could practice their beliefs freely. Their influence on American culture, politics, and religion has been considerable, making them a significant group in the history of early American settlers.