Mennonites who were persecuted in Europe fled and arrived in America in 1683.

Keep in mind the Mayflower landed in 1620, so these were among the earliest settlers.

The Mennonites settled in Pennsylvania and founded Germantown, the first German settlement in America, which is now part of Philadelphia.

At the same time, the remaining Mennonite community in Europe was facing its own division. A Swiss bishop, Jacob Amman, who was part of the Mennonite community, saw those who had violated the doctrine treated in ways he disagreed with.

Not as you might think, that they were treated too harshly, but that they were not treated strictly enough.

He feared the church was losing its purity.

For example, shunning wasn’t strict enough as a way to bring erring members back to the church.

Other members disagreed, and he ultimately excommunicated several Mennonites at a church meeting.

Fast forward to the early 18th century, and the Amish, facing persecution, flee to America.