in 1621, a group of englishmen called the pilgrims settled at plymouth, massachusetts. a bigger colony was built at massachusetts bay by the puritans in 1630. the pilgrims and the puritans were interested in making a better society, not looking for gold. they called this ideal society a "city on a hill". a man named roger williams left massachusetts after disagreeing with the puritans, and started the colony of rhode island in 1636.