Shakers

The Shakers, more formally known as The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, continue to be one of America’s most enduring communal societies. The Shakers began with the emigration of Ann Lee (1736–1784) and a small group of believers from England to upstate New York in 1774. Despite the group’s rough beginnings, the Shakers experienced increasing membership for most of the early nineteenth century and established twenty-two villages in the Northeast and western parts of the United States by 1836. At its peak, the Society’s population reached between four thousand and six thousand members. Central to Shaker theology were their radical beliefs in the male-female dichotomy of God and the identification of Mother Ann, as Lee was known within the society, as the second coming of Jesus Christ. A celibate society, the Shakers promoted industriousness, gender equality, and simple living. The Shakers were also known for their hospitality, including the sharing of food with visitors and strangers.