The Arrival of the Mayflower: Pilgrims Sail to the New World

On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, to the New World, landing in what would become Massachusetts. Those on board were willing to face a dangerous voyage and an uncertain future in order to build a community where they could worship freely. They had planned to settle in the northern stretches of the territory known as Virginia, but fate and bad weather forced them to land instead in New England. The Mayflower's arrival marked the beginning of a new kind of settlement in America-one in which people came to the New World to build a life for themselves and their families. The arrival of the Pilgrims brought a distinctly different approach to life in New England, with an emphasis on hard work and strong religious beliefs whose influence would shape the region for generations. The Arrival of the Mayflower delves into the hardships and triumphs won by this hearty band of settlers, as they escaped religious persecution in England to start their lives over in the New World.