The 1620 voyage of the Mayflower is widely considered the defining moment in American history, commemorated annually at Thanksgiving. Ric Burns' new documentary, based on William Bradford's firsthand account, reveals the harsh reality of the Pilgrims' transatlantic journey. The story of the Pilgrims has become synonymous with the ideals of America, remembered as a devout quest to establish a Puritan utopia. Yet, their passage from a difficult England to a thriving colony within a decade was also marked by hardship, cruelty, and remarkable ingenuity.