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Period: to
Immigration History
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Approx 20 African slaves came to Virginia.
This was the earliest recorded slave immigration in the U.S. By 1680 about 7,000 slaves were in the U.S. against their will. -
In between 1603-1640 an estimate of 20,000 puritans migrated to the Massachusetts region.
This migration is what most people think started the immigration issue in the U.S. -
The Naturalization Act of 1790
The Naturalization Act of 1790 establishes a rule of naturalization and a two-year residency requirement for aliens who are "free white persons" of "good moral character" -
Importation of slaves banned.
Importation of slaves into the United States is officially banned, though it continues illegally long after the ban. -
Almost haf of the American population was Irish.
In between 1820-1930 about 4.5 million Irish immigrated to the U.S. -
The California Gold Rush lured many immigrants to come to America.
During the mid-1800s, a huge amount of Asian immigrants settled in the United States. Most of them lured by the Gold Rush. -
Contract Labor Law
Contract Labor Law allowed recruiting of foreign labor. Bringing in more immigrants for labor use. -
The Depression
Following the Civil War, the United States experienced a depression in the 1870s that contributed to a slowdown in immigration. -
Naturalizaion Act
The Naturalization Act of 1870 expands citizenship to both whites and African-Americans, but Asians are still excluded. -
Fifteenth Amendment is ratified
The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified, granting voting rights to citizens, regardless of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Another luring factor of immigration. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Exclusion Act
One of the first attempts to restrict immigration was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from coming to America. Californians had pushed for this new law, blaming the Chinese for a decline in wages because the Chinese would work for less. -
Ellis Island opened
Ellis Island officially opened as an immigration station. -
Period: to
Biggest immigration rate
8,795,386 immigrants immigrated to U.S. This is one of the biggest if not the biggest immigration recorded. -
Angel Island opened
Angel Island opened. From 1910-1940 Angel Island detained and interrogated immigrants coming to the U.S. -
First World War
The US enters the First World War. -
Border Patrol
The Border Patrol is created to combat smuggling and illegal immigration. -
Immigration Act of 1924
US State Department policies made it very difficult for refugees to obtain entry visas. Despite the ongoing persecution of Jews in Germany. -
Alien registration Act
The Alien Registration Act requires the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the United States over the age of 14.