Which of the following terms relates to the early English settlers who established a colony in present-day Massachusetts?

The term "Pilgrims" specifically refers to a group of English settlers who established the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts in 1620. These settlers were part of a religious separatist movement seeking to escape persecution from the Church of England. They sought the freedom to practice their religion and create a community based on their beliefs. The Pilgrims are well-known for their journey aboard the Mayflower and their subsequent interactions with Native Americans, particularly during the first Thanksgiving.

The other terms refer to different groups or contexts. Cavaliers were supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War, which occurred later than the Pilgrims' settlement. Quakers were members of the Religious Society of Friends, known for their pacifist beliefs, who came to prominence in the mid-17th century, also after the Pilgrims. The general term "Colonists" could apply to various groups of settlers across the eastern United States, but it does not specifically identify the distinctive group of settlers known as the Pilgrims. Thus, the correct association for the early English settlers in Massachusetts is "Pilgrims."