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Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies gained independence from Great Britain, signing the Declaration of Independence.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ -
The Naturalization Act of 1790
Any white man of "good moral" may gain citizenship after two years of living in the U.S.
Five years later (1795), the law is amended and now requires at least five years of U.S. residency.
Xenophobia in the country continues to rise until John Adams amends the law in 1798 to 14 years of residency. ment is reduced to five years.
http://library.uwb.edu/static/USimmigration/1790_naturalization_act.html -
Alien Friends and Enemies Acts
The Alien Friends Act allowed the president to deport anyone seemed like a potential threat. Authorized deportation.
The Alien Enemies Act gives the president power to deport males of hostile nations during war.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/09/30/how-u-s-immigration-laws-and-rules-have-changed-through-history/
http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Alien_Enemies_Act_of_1798/ -
Mexican-American War
Tensions rise between America and Mexico as they fight over what land is currently known as Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico.
http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The U.S. gains ownership over Arizona, creating a treaty with Mexico and putting an end to the Mexican-American War.
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Guadalupe.html -
14th Ammendment
The 14th Amendment gives African Americans and former slaves citizenship rights and equal protection of the law.
http://www.14thamendment.us/amendment/14th_amendment.html -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment gives African American men the right to vote. "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/15thamendment.html -
Arizona Gains Statehood
President Taft signs Arizona into U.S. statehood.
http://arizonaexperience.org/remember/arizona-statehood -
1921 Emergency Quota Act
The 1921 Emergency Quota Act limited the amount people immigrating to the US by setting limits of immigrants per country.
http://library.uwb.edu/static/usimmigration/1921_emergency_quota_law.html -
Labor Appropriation Act
The Labor Appropriation Act established the U.S. border control to increase security
http://appropriations.house.gov/subcommittees/subcommittee/?IssueID=34777 -
Bracero Agreement
The Bracero Agreement allowed the use of Mexican labor on US farms.
http://braceroarchive.org/about -
Immigration and Nationality Act
AKA McCarren-Walter Act: Breaks racial barrier between U.S. and several countries (i.e. China).
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mccarren-walter-act-goes-into-effect -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 overcame legal state and local barriers that prevented African Americans from voting (15th Amendment)
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/voting-rights-act -
Arizona SB 1070
Gives law enforcement the power to question/arrest individuals they are suspicious of based on race.
https://www.aclu.org/feature/arizonas-sb-1070 -
Arizona HB 2162
Amended SB 1070, stated that the law cannot judge by race, color, or national origin. Also clarified "reasonable suspicion".
http://www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/analysis-of-arizonas-immigration-law.aspx
