Once they arrived in Massachusetts, the Puritans aimed to establish a new community where they could practice their faith without persecution. The long journey across the Atlantic Ocean, along with their immediate settlement, became a pivotal moment in American history. Furthermore, the ship’s arrival marked the beginning of European colonization in New England. That being said, the Pilgrims’ experience in the region led them to develop ideas such as self-governance and religious liberty. Upon debarking the Mayflower, the male passengers established the Mayflower Compact, a document that established a basic form of democracy. Overall, the Mayflower became a symbol of the quest for American freedom and opportunity that would shape the modern day.