Hinduism in the United States accounts for approximately 1% of the population, largely comprising first and second-generation immigrants from South Asia, though its concepts like yoga, karma, and meditation are widely adopted in mainstream American culture. Its historical engagement dates to the 19th century, when Transcendentalist philosophers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau deeply studied Hindu texts like the Bhagavad Gita. A pivotal moment was Swami Vivekananda's address at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, with later figures like Paramahansa Yogananda settling in 1925 and George Harrison popularizing Hare Krishna in the 1960s.
The Hindu American community saw significant growth after the passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, attracting educated and skilled migrants who have since achieved high educational and income levels. This demographic has also become increasingly active in state and national politics, exemplified by former presidential candidates Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy.
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