In early American history, the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth mainly followed the teachings of which Protestant reformer?

Introduction / Context:
The Pilgrims were a group of English Separatists who left England in the early seventeenth century and eventually sailed on the Mayflower to North America, where they founded Plymouth Colony. Their religious ideas were part of the wider Protestant Reformation. This question asks which particular reformer's teachings most strongly influenced the Pilgrims. Although the sub category is Indian culture, this fact is often included in world history and general knowledge sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the religious beliefs of the Pilgrims, not about political acts.
• All the options are names of important Christian figures, but with different roles.
• One reformer is especially associated with the theological tradition the Pilgrims followed.
• Basic knowledge of Protestant Reformation history is enough to answer.

Concept / Approach:
The Pilgrims belonged to a strict branch of English Puritanism that was heavily influenced by John Calvin's teachings, known as Calvinism. Calvin emphasised ideas such as predestination, the absolute sovereignty of God and a disciplined, scripture centred life. Martin Luther initiated the Reformation earlier in Germany, St Francis of Assisi was a medieval Catholic saint and Henry VIII created the Church of England for political reasons, not as a systematic theologian like Calvin. The approach is to identify which of these figures provided the main doctrinal framework the Pilgrims adopted.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Pilgrims were English Protestants seeking to practise a stricter form of faith than the Church of England allowed. Step 2: Remember that their beliefs are usually described as Calvinist in theology, stressing predestination and moral discipline. Step 3: Recognise John Calvin as the reformer whose writings, especially his Institutes of the Christian Religion, shaped Calvinism. Step 4: Note that Martin Luther was also a major reformer but his Lutheran tradition was distinct from English Puritan Calvinism. Step 5: Understand that St Francis of Assisi was a Catholic saint, not a Protestant reformer, and Henry VIII was a monarch, not chiefly a theologian. Step 6: Conclude that John Calvin is the best match for the teachings followed by the Pilgrims.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of the Pilgrims and early New England consistently describe their theology as Calvinist or Reformed rather than Lutheran or Anglican in emphasis. They adopted Calvinistic ideas about church organisation and personal moral discipline. While they separated from the established Church of England, their doctrinal roots remain connected to Calvin rather than directly to Henry VIII or to Catholic figures such as St Francis. This confirms John Calvin as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Martin Luther was a central figure in the Reformation, but the Pilgrims did not identify as Lutherans and their theology diverged from his in several ways. St Francis of Assisi lived centuries earlier as a Catholic saint focused on poverty and service, with no link to the Protestant Pilgrims. Henry VIII initiated the political break from Rome and established the Church of England, yet the Pilgrims were separating from that church rather than following Henry's religious ideas. Thus, these figures do not accurately represent the main teachings the Pilgrims followed.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes choose Martin Luther because he is widely known as a reformer, without considering the specific branch of Protestantism involved. Others may guess Henry VIII simply because he is directly connected with English church history. The key is to focus on the theological tradition described as Calvinist, which points clearly toward John Calvin and his writings rather than toward political or earlier religious figures.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: John Calvin