Amish, << AM ihsh or AH mihsh, >> are members of an Anabaptist Protestant group that teaches separation from the world. The Amish religion stresses hard work, humility, nonviolence, and simplicity. Members may not go to war, hold public office, or swear oaths. The men wear dark clothes and wide-brimmed hats. After marrying, they grow a beard. The women wear plain dresses and bonnets. The children attend rural Amish schools.
The Amish live in farming communities, but a minority make a living as farmers. Others are engaged in cottage industries, in which they make goods at home; own small businesses; or work for wages. The Amish do not buy insurance or pay social security taxes, and they do not participate in government social programs. They support the rights of private property and individual economic freedom. In addition, they willingly help one another and non-Amish people in times of financial need as part of their religious commitments.
The Amish religion originated in Switzerland among the Swiss and immigrants from southwestern Germany. It was named for Jacob Ammann. In 1693, Ammann led his followers in breaking away from the Swiss Mennonites because of disagreements over church discipline.
The Amish first traveled to North America in the early 1700’s. They settled in eastern Pennsylvania and spoke a German dialect that became known as Pennsylvania Dutch. Today, several groups of Old Order Amish and New Order Amish live in rural communities in the United States and Canada. The largest Amish communities are in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Central and South America also have some Amish communities, but there are none remaining in Europe.
See also Anabaptists ; Mennonites ; Pennsylvania Dutch .
