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Mother Ann Lee and the Shakers
1736-1784 Influential Period: 1758-1784 The turning point of Mother Ann Lee’s life was most likely when she received what she believed to be divine intervention and messages from God. Upon receiving this message, Ann joined the Wardley Society, to become one of the most influential Shakers of the period. When Ann’s children died she went through a nervous breakdown and prayed for answers from God. She came to the conclusion that sex and marriage were the root of evil, and became a zealous proponent of celibacy. After Ann believed she had a vision of Jesus when she was put in jail, she became even more of a religious fanatic. Ann believed she was the second coming of Christ after visions she had when she was put into an insane asylum. Ann Lee came to America along with several other Shakers in search of a new life. Her husband left her for a prostitute because of Ann’s beliefs in celibacy, leaving Ann devastated and alone. Ann called for equality among the sexes, but believed that men and women should be separated to prevent them from engaging in sexual behavior and other ‘impure’ activities. Ann converted many people to the ideas of the Shakers through her energetic speeches and her travels to other states. Due to the strict enforcing of celibacy and non-marriage, among other issues, the Shakers died out before the close of the 19th century. However, small pockets of Shakers still exist today. References: Sylvester Graham: Dr. Graham was also a proponent of celibacy and promoted the idea that sexual activity was the source of all the evil in the world. Calvin Harlow: Calvin Harlow was a priest who became a convert after Mother Ann Lee spoke to him about her beliefs. He went on to spread the Shaker beliefs to other people in many states.

//Tipton, Meredyth. "Mother Ann Lee."// Information Technology Services//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2011.//

//"Essay on Shaker History -- Shaker Historic Trail -- National Register of Historic Places."// U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America//. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.