Zurich, Switzerland. Conrad Grebel baptizes Georg Blaurock — first adult baptism. Start of the Radical Reformation.
Seven articles of faith: adult baptism, nonviolence, separation from world. Foundation for all Anabaptists.
Dutch priest joins the Anabaptists. His followers become Mennonites.
Oldest Protestant hymnal. Written in prison. Used at every Amish service to this day.
Jakob Ammann separates from Mennonites in Alsace. Demands strict Meidung (shunning). Birth of the Amish.
Amish begin settling in Pennsylvania at William Penn's invitation. Religious freedom.
Ship with 21 Amish families arrives in Philadelphia. One of the first major waves.
Amish refuse to fight. Pacifism. Support neither British nor revolutionaries.
Last European Amish assimilate with Mennonites. America becomes their only home.
Dienerversammlungen conferences. Amish split into Old Order (conservative) and Amish Mennonites (progressive).
Old Order bans cars. Key decision — buggy stays. Break with progressive Amish becomes final.
Pennsylvania demands school attendance until 16. Amish resist — eight grades is enough.
Moses Beachy founds Beachy Amish — electricity and cars allowed. Most progressive group.
Newspaper "The Budget" (founded 1890) becomes main Amish media. Letters: 10,000+/year.
Congress exempts Amish from Social Security. Community cares for its own — no need for government.
US Supreme Court: Amish may take children out of school after 8th grade. Precedent.
Shooting at Amish school: 5 girls killed. Amish forgive the killer. World stunned.
Amish population reaches 200,000. Doubling every 20 years. 7 children per family.
Lancaster clinic for Amish genetic conditions marks 25 years. Thousands of lives saved.
Population ~400,000 across 32 states. 2,700+ communities. Fastest-growing religious group in America.