| Group: | Circassians in the United States |
| Native Name: | Америкэм ис Адыгэхэр Circassian Americans |
| Population: | 25,000[1] |
| Popplace: | Upstate New York, New Jersey, California |
| Langs: | East Circassian West Circassian English Turkish Arabic Russian |
| Rels: | Primarily Islam Also Christianity and Circassian paganism |
Circassian Americans are Americans of ethnic Circassian origin. The term "Circassian Americans" can refer to ethnic Circassian immigrants to the United States, as well as their American-born descendants. Most trace their roots to Circassians in Syria and Circassians in Turkey, however, there are also those who descend from Circassians in Jordan and other areas of the Circassian diaspora. They mostly live in Upstate New York, California, and New Jersey and number around 25,000.[1] There is also a Circassian community in Canada.
Circassians in the United States all share their common ancestry in Circassia. However, there has been different waves of migrations originating from different regions. There are Circassians in the United States who originate from Turkish Circassians, while some originate from Jordanian Circassians or Syrian Circassians. There are also those whose ancestors directly migrated to the U.S. after the Circassian genocide.
Before the end of the Russo-Circassian War in 1864, a mass deportation was launched against the remaining population who survived the Circassian genocide.[2] Calculations including those taking into account the Russian imperial government's own archival figures have estimated a loss of 95–97%[3] [4] [5] [6] of the Circassian nation in the process. The displaced people were settled primarily to the Ottoman Empire.[7]
Circassians who were exiled to Ottoman lands initially suffered heavy tolls. Ottoman archives show nearly 1 million migrants entering their land from the Caucasus by 1879, with nearly half of them dying on the shores as a result of diseases.[8] If Ottoman archives are correct, it would make it the biggest exile of the 19th century.[9] The Circassians were initially housed in schools and mosques or had to live in caves until their resettlement. The Ottoman authorities assigned lands for Circassian settlers close to regular water sources and grain fields. Numerous died in transit to their new homes from disease and poor conditions. As such, many sought new homes.
Significant waves of Ottoman immigration to the United States began during the period between 1820 and 1920.[10] About 300,000 people immigrated from the Ottoman Empire to the United States, and part of them were Circassian. Many Muslim Circassians, who had survived the Circassian genocide perpetrated by the Christian Russian Empire, just like other Muslims, feared that they would not be accepted in a Christian country and would be discriminated against. This resulted in them hiding their Islamic faith (Taqiyya) and pretending to be Christian at the port of entry to gain easy access to the United States;[11] [12] moreover, many declared themselves as "Armenians" to avoid discrimination.[13]
Other Circassians in the Middle East, like in Syria and Jordan, were motivated to pursue the American Dream of economic success.[14] Immigrants returning after making money in the United States inspired further waves of immigrants. Many settlers also sent for their relatives. The Jordanian and Syrian Circassian communities in the U.S. grew even larger after the Six-Day War of 1967.