University of Juraj Dobrila in Pula

Department of Educational Sciences

Integrated undergraduate and graduate university study programme of teacher education

The Amish
(Project)

Student: Iva Stoji

Subject: Anglosaxon World II
Teacher: I. Rigo, senior lecturer in Pula, 23rd May 2015
Table of Contents

1. Introduction............................................................................................................ 3
2. History.................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 Jakob Ammann................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Coming to America.............................................................................................. 4
3. Beliefs and lifestyle.................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Clothing........................................................................................................... 6
4. Technology............................................................................................................ 6
5. Farming................................................................................................................. 7
6. One-room schools.................................................................................................... 8
7.Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 8
8. Refrences........................................................................................................... 9

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1. Introduction
I choosed this topic becouse I think it is quite interesting I 'd like to learn more about the
Amish culture. In my opinion they live very simple yet hard life and I don`t think that I could
live like them. It seems like too much disclaimer. Maybe I 'll change my mind after this
research.

2. History
The Amish emigrated German-speaking countries in Europe 250 years ago. They came to
American shores during the 18th century with other German-speaking people (1727-1790).
the second migration wave happend in 19th century from about 1815 to 1860. The original
Amish immigrants settled in Berks, Chester and Lancaster counties in southeastern
Pennsylvania (or William Penn's Woods.). In 1808 they moved westward to Ohio, in 1839 to
Indiana and to Iowa in 1840.

The amish acctually originated in Anabaptist movement (1525-1536). That gave rise ti
several Christian communities that survived to this day. Among them are Monnonites of the
Netherlands, the Hutterites of Austria, and the Swiss Brethren. In 1693 an orthodox branch of
the Swiss group, the Amish, took their name from Elder Jacob Amman (picture 1). From
1693 until 1697 he led a reform among scattered Mennonites 168 years after initial founding
of the Anabaptist- Mennonite movement. Amman represented older traditions and separation
from the world to a greater extent than other Anabaptist-Mennonite groups. Because they
believed that the membership in Christian church should be volountary and that church and
state should be separeted all of the Anabatist groups suffered martyrdom from established
teritorial state churches- Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed. They also believed that believers
are required to practice the teaching and example of Christ in a disciplined community.
Consequences of that were death and deportation. They suffered as heretics at the hand of
church and state, being burned at the stake and tied to wagon weels. Many of them were
placed in sacks and thrown into the river or tortured in other cruel ways.

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2.1 Jakob Ammann
Jakob Ammann was a Mennonite leader whoose teachings caused a schism. He insisted that
any excommuniated Mennonite church member should be shunned and that anyone who lied
should be excomunicated. Following Jesus example, Jakob introduced foot washing into the
worship service and taught that church members should dress in a uniform manner, that
beards should not be trimmed, and that is wrong to attend services in a state church. He tried
to make piece with the Mennonites, bu his attempts failed.

picture 1- Elder Jakob Amman

2.2 Coming to America

The Amish were very unwiling to leave their native Swiss homeland. Becose the Swiss
people were very proud of their country they regarded as the scoundrels thoose who moved
away. But Anabaptist were harassed to that messure that hex had no other choice. they came
to America as a part of much larger movement of German-speaking people, including the
Mennointes. They arrived in Philadelphia on October 2, 1727, on ship called Adventure from
Rotterdam. Ten yers later numerous Amish families joined them. during colonial era, that
early period, the Amish formed settlements in Berks, Chester an Lancaster as I mentioned
earlier. Becouse of tensions between the `new order Amish, who accpeted social change and
techonological innovation, and the `old order Amish, who did not, the schism occured.
During the next 50 years, about two-thirds of the Amish formed separate, small churches of
their own or joined either the Mennonite Church or the General Conference Mennonite

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Church. By the end of the 20th century there were more than 150,000 Amish living in more
than 200 Old Order Amish communities in the US and Canada. The largest communities were
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Kansas. Settlements were divided into
church districts, autonomous congregations of about 75 baptized members. Becouse members
meet in each other`s homes the district is again divided if it becomes too large

3. Beliefs and lifestyle

The mainstays of the Amish are humility, family, community, and separation from the world.
everysay life and custom are are governed by an unwritten code of behaviour called Ordnung,
and shunning (Meidung) remains an integral way in which the community deals with
disobedieat members. In religious doctrine Amish differ little from the Mennonites. Both
groups celebrate Holy Communion and they both practice foot washing. When 17 or 20
persons are old enough to be baptized and before that they are admitted to formal
membership in church. they are not forced or raised as a formal members of the church. It is
their own free will. Religious services are conducted in High German, and Pennsylvania
Dutch which is an mixture of High German, various German dialects an English.
Pennsylvania Dutch is spoken at home and in a daily discourse. Services are held every other
Sunday in family houses and barns. Every time is someone elses turn. For that occasion they
are prepare food and beverages. A wagon, filled with benches for the service and dishes and
food is often pulled to the host`s property. In most Amish homes a special place is reserved
for the Martyr`s Mirror. Martyr`s Mirror is the book chroniciling Amish history and
Anabaptist who died for their faith. They also have their newspapers called The Budget
established in 1890. It is pbulished in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Although Amish forbid the photos of themselves they sometimes accept the photographing of
their way of life. They believe that photographing themselves is violation of the Second
Commadmandment. For the same reason the dolls that girls play with have no faces. The
other thing that they believe is `worldly act contrary to the critical Gelassenheit 1 are musical
instruments. However, some Amish may play an instrument such as accordion or harmonica

1 Gelassenheit- the spitit of humility, modesty, and informality that lies at the
heart of the Amish way of life and which the Amish believe was exemplified by
Jesus Christ

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in private, but never in public. On the other side, singing at home or in church is very
important to Amish life. Selections from the Ausband- their hymnal, are often sung.

3.1 Clothing
The Amish are known for their, most self-maid, clothing. Man and boys ear broad-brimmed
black hats, dark-coloured suits, straight-cut coats without lapels, broadfall pants, suspenders,
solid-coloured shirts, and black socks and shoes. After they marry, man are growing beards
but they`re not allowed to have mustaches. Women and girls from the Old Oreder Amish are
wearing bonnets, long full dresses with capes and aprons are fastened with straight pins or
snaps. Amish women are not alowed to wear jewelery and they are not allowed to cut their
hair. their clothing is reflection of their respect for tradition and their interpretation of biblical
strictures against conforming to the ways of the world.

4. Technology
The Old Order Amish avoide having personal, homebased telephones but they use the
communal one occasionally. Also, they are avoiding cars. They ride bicycles and horse-and-
buggies instead, but they will use cars or trains operated by others in case of emergencies.
Although the buggies are traditional boxlike vehicles, they are not necessary black. Actually
many Amish and Mennonite groups can be distinguished by the colour of the buggy- white,
gray or even yellow. Some buggies may be equipped with heaters and windshield wipers.

Amish believe that use of electricity could lead to temptations and worldly amenities
detrimental to the community and family life. Exceptions to this rule include the use of
electric flashers on buggies in order to drive legally in certain communities and the use of
farm equipment that cannot be operated without some electricity and without which the
community`s economic livelihood would be threatened. The New Order Amish allow the use
of electricity, owning cars and telephones in the home.

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5. Farming
The amish are excellent farmers. They are growing and storing most of their food. They are
purchasing only staples such as flour and sugar. The Old Order Amish refuse to use most
modern farm machinery, but they use the one that is not operated by electricity (modern
machinery) but alternative power source. They are also famous for their barn raisings.
Something like that involves hundreds of men and scores of women who feed the workers.
Theese barns are a reminder of Amish tradition, community, industry and craft. The hex
signs2 are often used to adorn the barns. Their mission is to ward off evil and they are
synonymous with the communities of the `Pennsylvania Dutch. You can see the example of
the hex signs on the picture below.

picture 2- The hex sings on Amish barn

2 The hex sign is a design usually in shape of a star, wheel, or rosette on circural
field

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6. One-room schools
One-room schools are run by the community and Amish children attend it only through the
eight grade. This is the limitation that was held to be acceptable in the US by a 1972 Supreme
Court ruling. Subjects in this kind of school are concetrated on reading, writing, math, Amish
history and practical farming and homemaking skills. The biggest challenge is convincing
children to stay in the faith community.

Ones that daily chores are finshed and the childrens schoolwork completed, Amish families
often sing or read together before bed time.

7.Conclusion
The Amish life is subordinated to their religion for which they have a lot of respect. It is very
strict way of life but it has its advantages. I think that their families are a lot closer and more
connected than modern families and so is their community. They all work together and take
care of each other. The thing I like the most is that the church is not an institution for them.
The services are held at their own properties and they all hang out before and after the
service. Personally, I would like to try out that kind of living. Yes, it is hard but it seems to
me that it is much more peacefull and happier kind of life.

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8. Refrences
Kobasa,P.A., The World Book encyclopedia- section A , World Book, Chicago 2009

Documentary film

Amish: A secret life, BBC, 2012

picture 1

https://www.google.hr/search?
q=jakob+amman&biw=1304&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yOBgVb_cFsig
sgHd6ICoCA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=yzHpcXQSQa0W_M%253A
%3Bar1CTtx82vgvdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Famishandcatholic.weebly.com
%252Fuploads%252F1%252F5%252F2%252F3%252F15232990%252F960480_orig.jpg
%253F0%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Famishandcatholic.weebly.com%252Fheaven-and-
leadersprophets.html%3B200%3B241

23.05.2015.

picture 2

https://www.google.hr/search?
q=jakob+amman&biw=1304&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yOBgVb_cFsig
sgHd6ICoCA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=hax+sign+barns&imgrc=LrckC1TTZZ
w68M%253A%3BcNkZwMd1ov0NkM%3Bhttps%253A%252F
%252Fimg.washingtonpost.com%252Frf%252Fimage_1484w%252F2010-
2019%252FWashingtonPost%252F2012%252F03%252F27%252FOthers%252FImages
%252F2012-03-27%252FHex%252520Barn%252520on%252520tour_1332891841.jpg
%253Fuuid%253Dzjq_jnhmEeGxkS1faG5_9A%3Bhttp%253A%252F
%252Fwww.washingtonpost.com%252Flifestyle%252Ftravel%252Fescapes-hunting-for-

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hex-signs-in-pennsylvania-dutch-country
%252F2012%252F03%252F28%252FgIQANULviS_story.html%3B1484%3B1113

23.05.2015.

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