History

• Around 1623, a man named Jacob Amman stepped away from a faith known as Mennonites. He and many others were unhappy with how the Mennonites interpreted the Bible and how they worshipped. Amman and the group became a community, eventually known as Amish.
  
  

The Facts

• Amish people prefer a simple life, separate from the rest of the world. An Amish community is entirely self-sufficient; they harvest tobacco, vegetables, corn and other crops. Lanterns provide lighting as they have no electricity. Horse-drawn buggies take the place of cars and buses. Their clothes are basic and black or dark colors. Men wear hats according to status. Women wear prayer veils to indicate marital status.
  
  

Features

• Amish people do not claim any government aid. Only people employed by non-Amish employees pay social security tax. Should people need medical treatment, which cannot be treated within the community, they have a mutual-aid fund. The Amish people promote equality; they believe the modern way of life segregates people through wealth and processions.