How did religious conflict in europe affect european colonization of the americas?

The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492 and continued on into the late 1600’s. Many groups of colonists left Europe in search of a land where there was religious freedom. For example, Charles the First of England believed in the Divine Right of Kings. The theory is the king is basically an extension of God and any belief different than his is treason. Those who did have the same religious views as the king would be persecuted. The promise of cheap land and religious freedom led to the colonization of America.