The Pilgrims were English settlers who traveled to North America on the ship Mayflower in 1620 and established the Plymouth Colony in what is now Massachusetts. They were primarily members of a religious group called Separatists, who sought to separate from the Church of England due to religious persecution and desired to practice their faith freely. Before coming to America, many of these Separatists had lived in the Netherlands to escape persecution but later chose to create a new settlement in the New World for religious freedom and to preserve their cultural heritage. The Pilgrims endured a difficult voyage and harsh first winter, losing about half of their number, but eventually established a thriving colony that contributed to the foundations of religious freedom and democracy in America. Their celebration of the first Thanksgiving became a notable American tradition.
