The Mayflower set sail in 1620, carrying English separatists known as the Pilgrim Fathers to North America, where they established Plymouth Colony. This voyage is considered a foundational event in Anglo-American history, symbolizing the quest for religious freedom and self-governance. The Pilgrims' experiences and interactions with Indigenous peoples would shape the early social and political landscape of what would become the United States.

The launch of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 set the stage for narratives of exile and providence, influencing poetry about the New World. This settlement narrative inspired later writers to explore themes of hope, survival, and the quest for religious freedom, embedding these ideals into the American literary canon.