Grade 5, Unit 4, Lesson 3

The Shakers are a religious group that originated in England in the mid 1700s. Under the advice of their leader, Ann Lee (1736–1784)—or “Mother Ann” as she was called—she and 8 other members left to begin a new life in North America. In 1776, they settled in New York and built a small community for themselves.

This was a difficult time in United States history, as it was the height of the American Revolution (1775–1776). The Shakers are peace loving and therefore did not want to fight in the war. Ann Lee was put in jail by the governor of New York for the Shakers’ lack of cooperation, but was later released after she promised not to help the British. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Abraham Lincoln gave the Shakers permission to be excused from war duty, but they did help soldiers, both Union and Confederate, when they needed food or care.

The Shakers are a farming people that believe in shared living. Traditionally, the Shakers do not live in separate families, but in large shared housing for up to 100 people, with the men and women living and working in separate areas. They believe in hard work and are known for their inventions and handiwork. The Shakers invented many useful products; including a wash mill (an early washing machine), as well as waterproof and wrinkle-free cloth, and even the flat broom. A Shaker woman invented the circular saw.

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