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Citizenship: the beginning
On March 4, 1790 the Naturalization Bill was passed. This act limited access to U.S citizenship to white immigrants (people from Western Europe). It required these citizens to be living in the U.S for a minimum of 2 years and their children were under the age of 21 years old. It also granted citizenship to children born abroad to U.S citizens. -
The Steerage Act of 1819
The Steerage act was to take effect on January 1, 1820. This act regulated the transport of passengers to the U.S and protected all passengers aboard all ships. Ship captains were required to deliver and report a list of passengers with their demographic information to the district collector. It also penalized dishonest and noncompliant captains. -
Immigration: the beginning
From 1851-1900, people from all over the world left their homes and immigrated to the U.S. They were leaving their homes to escape land and job shortages, crop failure, shortage of food, and rising taxes. The United States was perceived as the land of economic opportunity. -
The 14th amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to all people who were born or naturalized in the United States. This included formerly enslaved people. The 14th amendment provided all citizens with equal protection under the laws. -
Extending naturalization requirments
In 1870, congress amended naturalization requirements. Extending naturalization eligibility to aliens being free white persons and to persons of African decent. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
On May 6, 1882, a federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. Excluding teachers, students, merchants, travelers, and diplomats. -
Expatriation Act
Any American women who marries a foreigner must take the nationality of her husband. Once married, the women's legal identity transformed into her husbands. Congress mandated this act on March 3, 1907. -
Indian Citizenship Act
The Indian Citizenship Act granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. However, until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting. The right to vote was governed by state law. -
Women's citizenship restored
Women were aloud to marry a non U.S citizen or foreigner without the fear of their citizenship being revoked. -
Executive Order 9066
President Franklin Roosevelt issued an order that authorized the evacuation of all persons deemed as a threat to national security. Over 100,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry were moved to assembly centers. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act is a landmark civil rights and labor law in the U.S. It outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, and sex. All U.S citizens would be guaranteed to have equal rights. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
The immigration reform and control act was signed into law by Ronal Reagan on November 6, 1986. This act made in unlawful for any employer to knowingly hire or recruit any person unauthorized to work in the U.S. It was also illegal for any person to use fraudulent work documents.