The document provides background information on the history and population growth of the Amish community in the United States. It traces the origins of the Amish back to 16th century Anabaptist groups in Switzerland and France. Over time, the Amish split from other Anabaptist denominations like the Mennonites. In the 1730s, Amish and other Anabaptist groups began immigrating to Pennsylvania, where the largest populations of Amish reside today. The Amish population has grown steadily, increasing over 12-fold between 1920-2010 as they sought to maintain cultural traditions in America.

1. 1. History of the Amish
2. As you watch the documentary, please make notes about the way in which the Amish struggle to maintain
their sense of cultural identity in the face of modern American culture. How do they negotiate their cultural
identity within the USA?
Examples of Material Culture Examples of Non-Material Culture Education
Religious Beliefs Relationship to Technology Work
Family Economic Activity Community
Amish Historical populations
Year Pop. %±
1920 5,000 —
1928 7,000 40.0%
1936 9,000 28.6%
1944 13,000 44.4%
1952 19,000 46.2%
1960 28,000 47.4%
1968 39,000 39.3%
1976 57,000 46.2%
1984 84,000 47.4%
1992 125,000 48.8%
2000 166,000 32.8%
2008 221,000 33.1%
2010 249,000 12.7%
Source: The Young Center for Anabaptist
and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown
College
1520s
Anabaptist group
formed in
Switzerland
1600s
Anabaptist move
to Alsace, France
1693
Anabaptists fight
and split into
Mennonites and
followers of
preacher Ammonn,
who became known as
Amish
1730s
Anabaptist,
Mennonites, and
Amish start
moving to
Pennsylvania –
today no Amish
are left in Europe
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