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The National Act of 1790
This was the first law which was able to define what eligibility for citizenship meant. This law established the standards and procedures on how immigrants because U.S. citizens. At this time, this right was only given to free white people. -
The Indian Removal Act
President Jackson supported the law which allowed white settlers to confiscate Native American land. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
After the Mexican-American War, this was a treaty that allowed citizenship to the Mexicans that decided to stay in the territory that was once known as El Norte. -
People v. Hall
In this case, the California Supreme Court states that the testimony of Chinese, Native, and African Americans were inadmissible in court when testifying against whites. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
The Supreme Court ruled that slaves and free African Americans were not U.S. citizens and therefore cannot obtain citizenship. -
Immigration Act of 1864
This law legalized labor recruitment which the U.S. used to encourage immigration, but the act was quickly repealed. -
Burlingame Treaty of 1868
This treaty allowed an international agreement between the U.S. and China. The U.S. was able to have access to Chinese workers by guaranteeing rights of free migration. -
14th Amendment
This Amendment allowed birthright citizenship to any persons born in the United States. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This law targeted restricted access to the U.S. for Chinese immigrants. They had limited legal entry access and ineligibility for citizenship. -
Elk v. Wilkins
The Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment did not extend to Native Americans as they did not gain citizenship by birth and did not have the right to vote. -
Geary Act
Congress required Chinese to prove they were lawfully in the U.S. by making them carry a Certificate of Residence or be deported. -
Expatriation Act of 1907
This act was able to strip U.S. born women if they married a non citizen immigrant man. -
Jones-Shafroth Act
This act allowed U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans after the U.S. had acquired the island in 1898. -
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
This law stated that all Native Americans who were born in the U.S. were automatically citizens by birth. -
Mexican Repatriation
The economic and political crises caused the border patrol to launch campaigns which detained Mexicans, including U.S. citizens, and send then across the border. -
Executive Order 9066
President FDR signed this order which authorized the rounding up and placing Japanese Americans living within 100 miles of the west coast in jail. -
Repeal of Chinese Exclusion
China was placed under the same immigration restrictions as other European countries. -
Ex Parte Endo
The Supreme Court rules that the incarceration of Japanese Americans could not be upheld. -
Displaced Persons Act
Congress allowed refugees to come to America from Europe. -
Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966
Cubans who were anti-communist were allowed immigrate conditions because they were a U.S. neighbor. -
Refugee Act
The law made the U.S. more open to changing situations when it came to refugees. They would now have annual admissions and could be adjusted annually.