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Naturalization Act of 1790
National citizenship granted to free white people. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Gave the New Mexico American citizens political, social and economic rights. -
14th Amendment
Everyone who is born or naturalized in the United States is considered a U.S. citizen. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
Extended naturalization rights to Africans but denied rights to Asians. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Prohibited immigration of Chinese people. -
Jones Shafroth Act
President Woodrow Wilson signed the act where Puerto Ricans were given U.S. citizenship. -
Indian Citizenship Act
Native Americans born in the U.S. were given U.S. citizenship, however the right to vote was dependent on the state. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
Eliminated laws preventing Asians from becoming naturalized American citizens. Race was no longer allowed to be a factor in immigration. The National Origins Quota System, each Asian nation was given only a minimum quota of 100 visas each year. -
Immigration Reform to Control Act of 1986
U.S. citizenship given to individuals that had resided in the United States before January 1, 1982. This act also put in place that employers could not knowingly hire anyone that is not authorized work in the U.S.