The Shakers are a Christian religious sect formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing.
Basic identity
The Shakers originated in mid‑18th century England as a breakaway movement from the Quakers, initially nicknamed “Shaking Quakers” because their worship involved ecstatic movement, dancing, and trembling. Their official name, United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, reflects a strong focus on the imminent second coming of Christ and a millenarian outlook.
History and founder
The group took shape around Jane and James Wardley in the 1740s, but its key organizing leader was Ann Lee, a Manchester textile worker who became known as “Mother Ann.” Ann Lee and a small group of followers emigrated to America in 1774, establishing their first community at Watervliet (near present‑day Albany), New York, from which additional villages spread through New England and parts of the Midwest.
Core beliefs and practices
Shakers are known for communal living, pacifism, and strict celibacy, meaning members do not marry or have children and instead rely on converts and adoption to sustain their communities. They emphasize gender equality in spiritual leadership, simple living, and highly ordered, cooperative economic life, historically sharing property and labor within their villages.
Cultural legacy
During the 19th century, Shaker villages became noted for efficient farming, technological ingenuity, and distinctive, minimalist furniture and design. Shaker communities produced or improved a variety of tools and devices—such as forms of the circular saw, clothespin, and various agricultural implements—and these practical contributions enhanced their reputation beyond religious circles.
Present day
The movement has sharply declined in numbers because of its celibate lifestyle and reduced inflow of new members. Today, only a very small Shaker community remains at Sabbathday Lake in Maine, but the Shakers’ influence persists in American religious history, design, and ideas about communal utopian living.
