Unique_Amish_People,_Living_in_America

Unique Amish People, Living in America Unknown ANT 101 Prof. Unknown July 02, 2012 Unique Amish People, Living in America Technology allows Americans to be comfortable and yet eager for new and more innovations. During the last century new technology and improvements have made life easier for the busy and fast paced society we now live. The high cost of today had caused more to work longer hours to pay and maintain comfortable life style. Despite the necessary longer hours the average person and new technologies available for easier life, some people don’t welcome or embrace modern inventions. There is clear distinction between our culture and the Amish people living among us today. The Amish people’s way of life is much simpler without most modern conveniences which is long ingrained due to their: heritage, culture, where and how they live, (skills, income, work ethics), (clothing, weddings, and religion), and education. Our culture here in United States places values on modern technology. According to (“Countries and Their Cultures,” 2012) the United States is popularly regarded as a nation that .that assimilates or absorbs immigrant’s populations to produce a standard American. Families are busy which generally depends on state of the art gismos and gadgets to maximize time such as the automobile and cellular phones. The industrial age spawned the age of development and set the stage for allowing families to compromise with the work loads, which are heavily depended upon to meet ends-meat. Their once was a time that allowed one income to pay the bills but now typically a family needs to two incomes due to the high cost of technology items. Heritage of the Amish. Amish are sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites. The Amish largely share a German or Swiss-German ancestry. They generally use the term "Amish" only for members of their faith community, and not as an ethnic designation. Although more Amish immigrated to America in the 19th century than during the 18th century, most of today's Amish descend from 18th-century immigrants. The latter tended to emphasize tradition to a greater extent, and were perhaps more likely to maintain a separate Amish identity. Culture of the Amish. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites immigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch. However, a dialect of Swiss German predominates in some Old Order Amish communities, especially in the American state of Indiana. Most Amish communities that were established in North America did not ultimately retain their Amish identity. The original major split that resulted in the loss of identity occurred in the 1860s. During that decade Dienerversammlungen (ministerial conferences) were held in Wayne County, Ohio, concerning how the Amish should deal with the pressures of modern society. Where and how the Amish live. Amish Mennonites began migrating to Pennsylvania in the 17th century as part of a larger migration from the Palatinate and neighboring areas. This migration was a reaction to religious wars, poverty, and religious persecution on the Continent. The first Amish immigrants went to Berks County, Pennsylvania, but later moved, motivated by land issues and by security concerns tied to the French and Indian War. Many eventually settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Other groups later settled in, or spread to Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Maine, and Ontario, Canada. Members usually get baptized no earlier than 18 and children are not counted in local congregation numbers, it is difficult to put an exact figure on the number of Amish. Rough estimates from various studies have placed their numbers at 125,000 in 1992; 166,000 in 2000; and 221,000 in 2008. Thus, from 1992 to 2008, population growth among the Amish in North America was 84% (3.6% per year). During that time they established 184 new settlements and moved into six new states. In 2000, approximately 165,620 Old Order Amish resided in the United States, of whom 73,609 were church members. The Amish are among the fastest-growing populations in the world, with an average of seven children per family. There are Old Order communities in 27 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario; Ohio has the largest population (55,000), followed by Pennsylvania (51,000) and Indiana (38,000). The largest Amish settlements are in Holmes County in central Ohio, Lancaster County in south-central Pennsylvania, and Elkhart and LaGrange counties in northeast Indiana. The largest concentration of Amish west of the Mississippi River is in Missouri, with other settlements in eastern Iowa and Southeast Minnesota. In addition, there is a population of approximately 10,000 Old Order Amish in West Central Wisconsin. Because of rapid population growth in Amish communities, new settlements are formed to obtain sufficient farmland. Other reasons for new settlements include locating in isolated areas that support their lifestyle, moving to areas with cultures conducive to their way of life, maintaining proximity to family or other Amish groups, and sometimes to resolve church or leadership conflicts. A small Beachy Amish congregation associated with Weaver town Amish Mennonite Church exists in Republic of Ireland. The Amish way of life according to (“The Amish Way of Life and Culture of the Amish – Everything you Wanted to Know,” 2008) reported the Mennonite people typically are farmers. The Amish generally use horse drawn buggies and do not use electricity as the outside modern world. (Granato, 2006) reported the Amish refuses to use automobile, which they rather use horse and buggy for transportation. They are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology. The Amish homes consist of primitive furniture but maybe a newer stove to cook with simplicity in mind. Most modern technology is avoided if it is a distraction such as music, or entertainment. The Amish uses lamps with oil or gas for lighting. Television that is adopted by the modern world is avoided due to questionable material and values it might suggest to the Amish home way of life. Skills, income, and work ethics. Some Amish, can provide the community with income by making furniture. Amish furniture is furniture marketed as being made by the Amish, primarily of Ohio and Shipshewana, Indiana. It is generally known as being made of 100% wood, usually without particle board or laminate. Amish furniture first gained attention in the 1920s, when early American folk art was "discovered", and dealers and historians placed great value upon the beauty and quality of the pieces. Many different styles of Amish furniture emerged. The Jonestown School began in the late 18th century in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The Jonestown School is most widely known for painted blanket chests decorated with flowers on three panels. Examples of these chests are on display at both the Smithsonian Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Another distinctive style of Amish furniture is the Soap Hollow School, developed in Soap Hallow, Pennsylvania. These pieces are often brightly painted in red, gold, and black. Henry Lapp was a furniture maker based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and it is his designs that most closely resemble the furniture we think of today as Amish-made. He was one of the first to abandon the painted, Germanic-style influence in his furniture and opted for an undecorated, plain style, following more the styles of Welsh furniture making of the time. The order book he offered to his customers contained watercolor paintings of his pieces and is now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The record price for American folk-painted furniture was sold at Sotheby's in 1986. It was a tall case clock made in 1801 by Johannes Spitler that sold for $203,500. Because Amish beliefs prevent the use of electricity, many woodworking tools in Amish shops are powered by hydraulic and pneumatic power that is run on diesel generators. Most communities permit some technology, and allowances can be made in the case of woodworking, as the craft often supports multiple families within the community. Great attention is paid to the details of the wood in the furniture-making process. Each piece of wood is hand-selected to match the specific furniture in mind. Attention is paid to the grain of the wood, both in gluing pieces together and in achieving the desired look of the finished piece. Amish furniture is also valued for its sustainability and is considered a green product. The Amish woodworkers pride themselves in their work and view their products as both a pieces of art and furnishings to be used and lived in for generations. Amish furniture is made in many different styles. The Mission and Shaker styles share a few characteristics. Mission is characterized by straight lines and exposed joinery. It is often considered to be clean and modern in design. The Shaker style is plain, yet elegant and has a very simple and basic design aimed at functionality and durability. The Queen Anne style is in direct contrast to the Mission and Shaker styles. It is considered traditional, with ornate moldings, unique foot details, and carved ornamentation. Other styles available are Southwestern, Rustic, Cottage, and Beachfront. Amish furniture making is often a skill passed through many generations. Most Amish children rarely attend school beyond eighth grade, often to help out at home, or in the shops. Many families become known for their specific design details and niches. Some woodworkers focus only on outdoor furniture, others on pieces for the living room or bedroom. No piece of furniture is ever identical because of the care taken to select the wood. The grain is different on every piece of wood, and the craftsmen often try to highlight the features of each individual piece. In recent years, the Amish furniture market has expanded to include online sales. The Amish craftsmen, because of their beliefs, are prohibited from running the websites. Non-Amish retailers often attend Amish furniture expositions in Ohio and Indiana to see Amish furniture on display and meet the craftsmen behind the pieces. Relationships are often developed, and the retailer becomes the middleman between the simple life of the Amish woodworker and the modern buyer. Amish furniture is now available to a wider market and to those who may not be in close proximity to an Amish woodworking shop. It is no longer necessary to visit a retail location to select the unique wood and stain combination desired; this can all be done on the Internet, and there are dozens of different wood, stain and upholstery options to choose from. The finished furniture is shipped directly from the stain shop to the consumer. Outside of furniture making, women use their craftsmanship ability making premier quilts, however they can be quite expensive, but they have been known to be worth the price for the quality that is put in making them. Other than making quilts or fine furniture typically the Amish survive financially by contributing to a community pot, which is a duty for all to contribute. The Amish are also known for their produce, milk, and farming skills. Clothing, weddings, and religion. For clothes the Amish considers extravagant clothing to be vain. Women typically wear dresses to floor length. Men generally wear dark-colored suits, trousers without pleats, suspenders, and straw-brimmed hats. Marriages for the Amish are considered permanent and there is no divorce, they typically take place after the fall. The Amish women can marry as young as sixteen, but they wait until they are in their early twenty’s. Religion is dedicated to a list of rules, and oral rules are known as Ordnung. Ordnung is an outline to the faith of Amish, which defines what it means to be Amish. Ordering differs from community to community. Education. They typically operate their own one-room schools and discontinue formal education at grade eight (age 13/14). They value rural life, manual labor and humility. The Amish do not usually educate their children past the eighth grade, believing that the basic knowledge offered up to that point is sufficient to prepare one for the Amish lifestyle. Almost no Amish go to high school and college. In many communities, the Amish operate their own schools, which are typically one-room schoolhouses with teachers (young unmarried women) from the Amish community. On May 19, 1972, Jonas Yoder and Wallace Miller of the Old Order Amish, and Adin Yutzy of the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church, were each fined $5 for refusing to send their children, aged 14 and 15, to high school. In Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the conviction,[43] and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this, finding the benefits of universal education do not justify a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Learning about the Amish can tell us about how one’s culture can be quite different than that of our own culture. Although the Amish culture is simpler without modern technology as I am familiar with, one has to admire and try to understand rather than judge one against one another. Both cultures can have advantages and disadvantages, but when it boils down to it, it one’s personal choice what is better. References Countries and Their Cultures. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-States-of-America.html Countryfarm Lifestyles. (2008). The Amish Way of Life and Culture of the Amish – Everything you Wanted to Know! Retrieved from http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/amish.html Granato, S. (2006). Facts About Amish Clothing, Transportation, Weddings and Cooking. The Amish Lifestyle. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/facts-amish-clothing-transportation-weddings-35239.html