I believe the answer is: played a crucial role in the settlement of America, since the main reason the Puritans left England for America was to escape religious persecution.
During the religious persecution, people who refuse to adopt the national religion was either exiled or executed.
America became the main destination for these people because of two reasons. First, we adopt the concept of religious freedom, which banned the government from interfering with people's religion. Second, at that time we provide new settlers with new lands in a low price.