In 1993, the Amish celebrated three centuries of their existence. Having disappeared from their original European regions, they now reside in over 200 communities across 22 American states and the Canadian province of Ontario. The American Amish people represent one of the most unique and diverse cultural groups in the American mosaic. Their avoidance of cars, reliance on horse-powered farm equipment, and peculiar attire distinguish them from the contemporary culture of technological advancement.
History and Origins of the Amish People
The Amish people have their origins in the sixteenth-century Europe, where a group of young reformers in Zurich, Switzerland, challenged the religious authorities by baptizing one another in January 1525. They rejected the practice of infant baptism, which they considered invalid, and insisted on adult baptism based on a voluntary confession of faith. Their opponents called them Anabaptists, or rebaptizers, because they had already been baptized as infants in the Catholic Church. The Anabaptists, also known as the Radical Reformers, spread their movement to other regions of Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The Anabaptist movement posed a threat to the civil and religious order, and provoked a fierce persecution from both Catholic and Protestant powers. The Anabaptists were hunted down and killed by various means, such as drowning, burning, starving, or beheading. The Martyrs Mirror, a 1,200-page book that documents the martyrdom of the Anabaptists, was first published in Dutch in 1660 and later in German and English. Many Amish households still have a German copy of the Martyrs Mirror today.
The Swiss Anabaptists aimed to follow the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives, by loving their enemies, forgiving offenses, and turning the other cheek. Some Anabaptist factions resorted to violence, but many renounced force and sought to live peacefully even with their opponents. The ordeal of execution tested their faith in the power of sacrificial love, and while some recanted, many gave their lives for their beliefs. Severe persecution forced many Anabaptists to go underground and to retreat to rural areas. Swiss Anabaptism took root in the countryside. The experience of persecution, however, created a divide between the church and the society in the Anabaptist perspective. The Anabaptists believed that the worldly kingdoms based on coercion conflicted with the peaceful kingdom of God.
By 1660 some Swiss Anabaptists had moved north to the Alsace region of present-day France, which borders southwestern Germany. The Amish emerged as a distinct group in 1693, when a schism occurred among the Swiss and South German Anabaptists. Jakob Ammann, a leader of the Alsatian church, tried to revitalize the Anabaptist movement in 1693. He suggested holding communion twice a year instead of the usual Swiss practice of once a year. He also argued that Anabaptist Christians should obey Christ by washing each others' feet in the communion service. To maintain doctrinal purity and spiritual discipline, Ammann prohibited fashionable dress and the trimming of beards, and enforced a strict discipline in his congregations. Based on the New Testament teachings, Ammann advocated the shunning of excommunicated members. Ammann's followers, later called Amish, became another branch in the Anabaptist family.
Significant Immigration Waves of the Amish
The Amish came to North America in two major waves, in the mid-1700s and the early 1800s, seeking religious freedom and fertile land. The first wave consisted of 21 Amish families who boarded the ship Charming Nancy in 1737 and sailed from Rotterdam to Philadelphia¹. They settled mainly in southeastern Pennsylvania, where they found a tolerant and diverse environment. The first Amish settlement in Pennsylvania was in Oley Township, Berks County, founded in 1714². By the American Revolution, there were at least eight Amish settlements in Pennsylvania and by the end of the eighteenth century the population had expanded into Somerset and Mifflin counties¹.
The second wave of immigration was triggered by the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent political and economic instability in Europe. Many Amish left their homes in Switzerland, Alsace, and southern Germany and migrated to North America, where they joined the existing Amish communities or established new ones. Some of them also moved to Canada, where they received land grants from the British government. The second wave lasted from 1815 to 1860 and brought about 3,000 Amish immigrants to North America¹. They spread to other states, such as Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, following the frontier and the availability of land.
The immigration of the Amish to North America had a significant impact on their history and culture. It enabled them to escape the persecution and oppression they faced in Europe and to practice their faith and lifestyle freely. It also exposed them to new challenges and opportunities, such as interacting with other religious and ethnic groups, adapting to different climates and terrains, and coping with social and technological changes. The immigration also contributed to the diversity and variation among the Amish, as different groups developed their own customs and traditions in response to their local contexts and circumstances.
Amish Religions and Way of Life
The Amish are Christians who believe in the Bible as the word of God. They also follow an unwritten code of conduct called Ordnung, which governs every aspect of their lives, from clothing, food, education, work, to social relationships. The Amish highly value humility, family, community and separation from the world. They strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus, which include love, forgiveness, peace, and service.
One of the distinctive features of the Amish is their plain and simple clothing, with no buttons, zippers, or jewelry. This clothing is meant to show equality and purity, and to avoid temptation and vanity. Amish women usually wear long dark-colored dresses, aprons, veils, and stockings. Amish men typically wear long dark-colored pants, shirts, vests, hats, and beards. Amish men do not shave their beards after marriage, as a sign of loyalty and maturity.
The Amish are also known for not using electricity or modern technology, such as telephones, radios, televisions, or cars. They believe that these things can interfere with their relationship with God, family, and community. They also worry that these things could lead them to be seduced by the world, or influenced by values and cultures that are contrary to their beliefs. The Amish prefer to use natural sources of energy, such as the sun, wind, water, and wood. They also use horse-drawn buggies as a means of transportation, and horses, cows, and chickens as pets and livestock.
Many Amish people have exceptional agricultural skills, and live from growing crops and raising livestock. They typically grow corn, wheat, vegetables, and fruits, and make dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. They also make craft items, such as quilts, furniture, and ceramics, which are often sold to non-Amish people. Other occupations common among the Amish are carpenters, blacksmiths, and merchants.
The Amish place great importance on family and community, and often live and work together in groups. They have a strong social system, which is based on mutual help, respect, and obedience. They also have a unique education system, which focuses on forming character and practical skills, rather than academic knowledge. Amish children usually attend small schools run by Amish teachers, and only study until the eighth grade. After that, they help their parents at home or in the fields, or learn to become apprentices in a particular field.
Culture of the Amish
The culture of the Amish is based on their religious beliefs and values, which emphasize humility, family, community, and separation from the world. The Amish have a rich and diverse culture, which is expressed in various aspects of their daily lives, such as their language, dress, food, education, work, and social relations.
Language
The Amish speak a dialect of German called Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch, which is their native and everyday language. They also learn English as a second language, which they use for interacting with non-Amish people or reading the Bible. However, learning and maintaining two languages can be difficult, especially for those who join the Amish from outside. Moreover, the Amish language can isolate them from the mainstream society and culture, and make them feel like outsiders.
Dress
The Amish dress in a plain and simple manner, without buttons, zippers, or jewelry. Their dress is intended to show equality and purity, and to avoid temptation and pride. Amish women usually wear long dark dresses, aprons, bonnets, and stockings. Amish men usually wear dark pants, shirts, vests, hats, and beards. Amish men do not shave their beards after marriage, as a sign of loyalty and maturity.
Food
The Amish food is mostly homemade, using fresh and natural ingredients from their farms and gardens. They cook and eat traditional dishes, such as pies, breads, soups, stews, casseroles, and preserves. They also make dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and yogurt. They avoid processed and packaged foods, as well as alcohol and tobacco. They eat together as a family and a community, and share their food with their neighbors and guests.
Education
The Amish education is focused on forming character and practical skills, rather than academic knowledge. Amish children usually attend small schools run by Amish teachers, and only study until the eighth grade. After that, they help their parents at home or on the farm, or learn a trade as an apprentice. The Amish do not value higher education, as they believe it can lead to worldly influences and pride.
Work
The Amish work is mostly related to farming and craftsmanship, which reflect their values of simplicity, self-reliance, and stewardship. They use horse-drawn machinery and organic methods to cultivate their crops and raise their animals. They also make handicrafts, such as quilts, furniture, and pottery, which they often sell to non-Amish customers. Other common occupations among the Amish are carpentry, blacksmithing, and trading.
Social relations
The Amish social relations are based on mutual aid, respect, and obedience. They have a strong sense of community and solidarity, and often live and work together in groups. They follow an unwritten code of conduct called the Ordnung, which regulates every aspect of their life, and varies from one Amish community to another. They also practice church discipline, which includes shunning excommunicated members. They avoid contact with non-Amish people, whom they call "English", and with worldly values and cultures.
Challenges and Adaptations of the Amish
The Amish are a religious group that strives to live a simple, traditional, and separate life from the world. However, they also face various challenges and changes that come with the modern times. Some of these challenges and changes include:
Language barrier
The Amish speak a dialect of German called Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch, which is their native and everyday language. They also learn English as a second language, which they use for interacting with non-Amish people or reading the Bible. However, learning and maintaining two languages can be difficult, especially for those who join the Amish from outside. Moreover, the Amish language can isolate them from the mainstream society and culture, and make them feel like outsiders.
Cultural differences
The Amish have a distinct culture that is based on their religious beliefs and values, such as humility, family, community, and separation from the world. They have a set of unwritten rules and norms that govern their behavior, dress, food, education, work, and social relations. These rules and norms can differ from one Amish community to another, and can also clash with the general American culture, which embraces change, individualism, technology, and diversity. The Amish can face cultural conflicts and misunderstandings with their non-Amish neighbors, authorities, and customers.
Land scarcity and cost
The Amish are mostly farmers, who rely on the land for their livelihood and lifestyle. They use horse-drawn machinery and organic methods to cultivate their crops and raise their animals. They also prefer to live close to their relatives and church members, forming tight-knit and cohesive communities. However, the availability and affordability of farmland have decreased over the years, due to urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. The Amish have to compete with other buyers and developers, who can offer higher prices and more amenities. The Amish have to either move to new and remote areas, or diversify their income sources by engaging in non-farming occupations, such as carpentry, blacksmithing, or trading.
Technology and innovation
The Amish are known for their rejection of modern technology and innovation, such as cars, electricity, phones, radios, TVs, or computers. They believe that these things can interfere with their relationship with God, family, and community, and can tempt them to adopt worldly values and lifestyles. They also fear that these things can erode their identity and autonomy, and make them dependent on external forces and influences. However, the Amish are not completely anti-technology or anti-innovation. They are selective and pragmatic, and evaluate each thing based on its impact on their spiritual and social life. They also adapt some technology and innovation to suit their needs and purposes, such as using solar panels, sewing machines, or cell phones, but with certain limitations and restrictions.
The Amish are a resilient and resourceful group, who have survived and thrived for centuries in the midst of changing and challenging times. They have managed to preserve their faith and culture, while also adapting to their environment and circumstances. They are an example of a culture that balances continuity and change, tradition and innovation, and separation and integration.
Conclusion
The Amish are a religious and cultural group that originated in Europe in the 16th century and migrated to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. They have a distinctive and diverse culture that is based on their religious beliefs and values, which emphasize humility, family, community, and separation from the world. They have also faced various challenges and changes over the years, and have adapted to them in selective and pragmatic ways. The Amish are an example of a culture that balances continuity and change, tradition and innovation, and separation and integration.
Important points of the article:
- The Amish are one of the branches of the Anabaptist movement, which rejected infant baptism and advocated for the separation of church and state.
- The Amish emerged as a distinct group in 1693, when Jakob Ammann initiated a schism among the Swiss and South German Anabaptists over some doctrinal and disciplinary issues.
- The Amish faced persecution and violence in Europe, and migrated to North America in two major waves, in the mid-1700s and the early 1800s, seeking religious freedom and fertile land.
- The Amish have a rich and diverse culture, which is expressed in various aspects of their daily lives, such as their language, dress, food, education, work, and social relations.
- The Amish have also faced various challenges and changes over the years, such as language barrier, cultural differences, land scarcity and cost, and technology and innovation, and have adapted to them in selective and pragmatic ways.