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Naturalization Act
This act made it take longer for immigrants to become citizens. The notice time for immigrants was increased to 2 years and the residence time was increased to 5 years. -
Alien Friends/Enemies Act
The president could imprison or deport anyone who seemed "dangerous." During a time of war, the president could imprison or deport any male of the age of 14 that seemed "dangerous." About 80,000 Mexicans decided to become U.S. citizens. -
Slave Trade Ends
Importation of slaves into the United States is now illegal. It is still legal to enslave those African-Americans and their children who were already here. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
The United States gained former Mexican terriorty which included Mexicans living on that land. The Mexicans had a year to decided whether they wanted to keep their Mexican citizenship or become U.S. citizens. -
The Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in California increases the number of immigrants from China. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese immigrants were banned from coming to the United States when the bill passed. This was the first major law restricting immigration to the United States. -
Ellis Island
Ellis Island opened and was the processing center for nearly 12 million immigrats over 30 years. Most of these immigrants were of European decent. -
Angel Island
Angel Island opened and was considered the Ellis Island of the West. It processed immigrants from Asia for the 30 years that it was open. Immigrants that were waiting to for entry to the United States stayed on the island. -
Immigration Act of 1917
Immigrants had to take and pass a literacy test to enter the United States. This was enacted to decrease the number of poor people that could enter the United States. Asian immigrants were prohibited from trying to immigrate unless they were from the Phillipinies or Japan. Persons of Asian ancestry who fought in WWI were given the right of naturalization. -
Alien Registration Act (Smith Act)
Aliens over the age of 14 applying for visas in the United States had to register and be fingerprinted. -
Displaced Persons Act
Europeans who were displaced by the war were permittied to enter the United States outside of the regular immigration quotas. -
Internal Security Act
Also known as the McCarran Act, immigrants who were suspected of promoting communism or facism were allowed to be investigated and deported. It also allowed the limitation of free speech due to the nations security. -
Operation Wetback
Mexican immigrants are blamed for taking American jobs once the soldiers returned from WWII. Operation Wetback enforces the deportation of undocumented workers back to Mexico. -
Immigration Act of 1990
The number of immigrants allowed into the United States increased to 700,000 per year and provided accommodations for immigrants and their families.
