-
Naturalization Act of 1798
Act increased the time for immigrants to become naturalized citizens to 14 years of residence. -
Influx of Chinese Immigrants
Many Chinese immigrate to the U.S. which then go on to act as the dominant labor force for the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. -
Irish begin to immigrate to U.S.
Irish are struck with potato famine in 1845 and immigrate in large numbers to survive. -
The Know-Nothing Party gains power
Due to rising concerns of immigration after the massive Irish immigration, the American Party (or the Know-Nothing Party) gains power on the basis of fear of immigration and Catholicism. -
United States Bans Abolishes Slavery
The United States passes and adopts the thirteenth amendment of the consitution which abolishes slavery. -
Naturlization Act of 1870
Grants citizenship to people of "African descent" and whites, but excludes Asians and Native Americans. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Act would outlaw any further Chinese immigration and also denied citizenship to current Chinese settlers. -
Seattle Riot of 1886
Riot breaks out in Seattle due to Anti Chinese sentiments. -
Immigration Act of 1917
Added a literacy requirement for citizenship as well as added what was deemed undesirable features of immigrants and banned immigrants of any of these characterisitics. -
Smith Act
Required all non-citizen adult residents to register with the government in the form of a green card, and it advocated a criminal penalty towards those who advocated the overthrow of the U.S. government. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Abolished the National origins quota system and replaced it with a system that put an emphasis on immigrants with skills and their relationship with citizens or U.S. residents. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Act made it illegal to knowingly hire undocumented workers, employers to attest to their workers' immigration status, and granted amnesty to agricultural illegal immigrants. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
Made it so that anyone in the U.S. illegally had to be removed and couldn't reenter the the U.S. for 3 years. It also added improvements to border control. -
The U.S. Patriot Act is signed
George W. Bush signs the act in response to September 11th terrorist acts. Restrictions on immigration were increases as well as protection on the border. Also, power was given to immigration authorities to detain and deport anyone suspected to be involved in terrorist related activities. -
Arizona SB 1070
An act signed by Arizona governor Jan Brewer known as the strictest anit-illegal immigration measure. It required aliens over the age of 14 to register with the government if they lived in the state for over 30 days and to carry all their registration documents with them at all time, and it was a crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying their registration documents.
