Early English migration to New England begins in September of 1620 with the arrival of the Pilgrims and the establishment of Plymouth Colony which is located in present day Massachusetts. Like other previous English settlements in America, the Pilgrims quickly faced environmental struggles and Indian relations that wiped out the majority of their population in the first year alone. In contrast to previous colonies, the New Englanders often traveled in family groups, brought more goods and livestock with them, and traveled with close associates. They also looked for a new life in America to practice religious freedoms as compared to southern colonies which traveled the long journey for mostly business purposes. In 1629 the Great Migration erupted as over 20,000 English settlers arrived in New England in the Massachusetts Bay over the next decade. The settlers of the New England colonies quickly organized a government and worked together toward common goals. Along with the British settlers, the Dutch, Swedes, and Germans also established territories in New England during this time period. 1660 marked the end of the Great Migration to the Puritan Massachusetts Bay colony. From this point further, immigration was strongly discouraged. Migration to New England by European settlers in the 1600 follows the theme of immigration because it was one of the first signs of colonization and migration to America. This fact becomes significant in understanding the importance of immigration in the development of American history. The United States is a country built by immigrants, without these settlers, our great country may never have existed. This wide variety of Europeans living together formed a diverse nation with different, but unique cultures and practices.