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Naturalization Act of 1790
The Naturalization Act of 1790 "permitted free whites of good character with two years' residence in the United States to become naturalized citizens" (Artifact Explorer, n.d.). At this point in time, the only people who had a path to citizenship were free white people. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/h-r-40-naturalization-bill-march-4-1790#:~:text=This%201790%20act%20set%20the,born%20abroad%20to%20U.S.%20citizens. -
Naturalization Act of 1790 Reference
Artifact Explorer. (n.d.). H.R. 40, Naturalization Bill, March 4, 1790. VisitTheCapitol.gov. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/h-r-40-naturalization-bill-march-4-1790#:~:text=This%201790%20act%20set%20the,born%20abroad%20to%20U.S.%20citizens. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The United States passed a series of laws meant to restrict rights for foreign-born Americans. The acts included raising the residency requirements from 5 years to 14 years and allowed the president to deport "aliens" (National Archives). These acts were specifically passed to discriminate against foreign-born whites due to an anticipated war with France. The United States passed these laws mainly for protection rather than direct discrimination. -
Alien and Sedition Acts Reference
National Archives. (n.d.). Alien and Sedition Acts (1798). National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/alien-and-sedition-acts#:~:text=Passed%20in%20preparation%20for%20an,brink%20of%20war%20with%20France. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was passed to force southeastern Indian tribes off of their homeland and relocate them to Indian Territory. This act was a direct attack against the Indians -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the United States annexing much of Mexico's land and gave the people in the newly acquired territory a choice to become US citizens or to become Mexican citizens. The United States could have refused to grant citizenship to the people residing in these lands but gave them the opportunity to become citizens. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
In Dred Scott v. Sanford, the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not have the rights that citizenship provides. This decision was a landmark ruling that dealt a major blow to the abolitionist movement, where despite fighting for the rights of African-Americans and slaves, they continued to lose more rights. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside" (National Archives). The ratification of the 14th Amendment was monumental where the slaves born in the United States were automatically granted citizenship. -
14th Amendment Reference
National Archives. (n.d.). 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868). National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment#:~:text=No%20State%20shall%20make%20or,equal%20protection%20of%20the%20laws. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
The Naturalization Act of 1870 extended the rights of naturalization for African-Americans but not for other nonwhites. This act shows that the United States was still discriminate to other races, particularly the Chinese. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act specifically targeted the immigration of Chinese people and restrict them from entering the country by implementing a 10-year ban on Chinese laborers entering the country. The passage of this act shows how immigration was changing in the United States where a century earlier, it was mainly Europeans but now Asians have been immigrating to the United States as well. -
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
The Indian Citizenship Act allowed all Native Americans born in the US to automatically become US citizens. The passage of this act shows that the rights of the Indians were somewhat improving overtime. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act
The Immigration and Nationality Act "abolished quotas, opening the doors to 'those who can contribute most to this country''' (LBJ Presidential Library). The importance of this act was that immigration was now mainly skill-based and eliminated restricting citizenship on the basis of race. -
Immigration and Nationality Act Reference
LBJ Presidential Library. (n.d.). Immigration and Nationality Act. LBJ Presidential Library. https://www.lbjlibrary.org/news-and-press/media-kits/immigration-and-nationality-act#:~:text=The%20Immigration%20and%20Nationality%20Act%20abolished%20quotas%2C%20opening%20the%20doors,President%20John%20F. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was made to restrict illegal immigration by making it illegal for employers to hire illegal immigrants. The act also granted amnesty to immigrants who entered the country before 1982. This act both restricted immigration by attempting to curb illegal immigration, and expanded immigration by providing citizenship to those who resided before 1982. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act was created to "protect eligible young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation" (KFF, 2013). This act shows that even with laws made to restrict illegal immigration, it is still ongoing. This act was made to protect the rights of those who illegally immigrated to the United States as children where many purely look at the US as their only home. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Reference
KFF. (2023, April 13). Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/fact-sheet/key-facts-on-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca/#:~:text=The%20Deferred%20Action%20for%20Childhood,authorization%20for%20temporary%2C%20renewable%20periods.