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The Jamestown Colony
First permanent English settlement in North America. The colony gave England its first foothold in the European competition for the New World. -
First African Slaves
Slaves brought to Virginia to work on Tobacco plantations. -
The Plymouth Colony
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England, with 102 immigrants, forty-one of whom were Separatists. Two months later, they arrived at Cape Cod in modern Massachusetts. -
Native American Migration
The U.S. establishes first Native American reservation and policy of dealing with each tribe as an independent nation. -
Naturalization Law
The original United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790 provided the first rules to be followed by the United States in the granting of national citizenship. This law limited naturalization to immigrants who were free White persons of good character. -
Naturalization Act of 1798
The Naturalization Act, passed by the United States Congress on June 18, 1798, increased the period necessary for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States from 5 to 14 years. -
Prohibition of Importation of Slaves
The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves of 1808 is a United States federal law that stated that no new slaves were permitted to be imported into the United States. -
Potato Famine
Potato crop fails in Ireland sparking the Potato Famine which kills one million and prompts almost 500,000 to immigrate to America over the next five years. -
Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush sparks first mass immigration from Chinese Immigrants and Americans. -
Supreme Court Ruling
Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for states to regulate immigration and to tax incoming passengers. -
Italian Immigration
Italy’s troubled economy, crop failures, and political climate begin the start of mass immigration with nearly four million Italian immigrants arriving in the United States. -
Puerto Rico & Cuba
Congress establishes a civil government in Puerto Rico and the Jones Act grants U.S. citizenship to island inhabitants. U.S. citizens can travel freely between the mainland and the island without a passport. -
1917 Immigration Act
The 1917 Immigration Act, also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, was a law passed by Congress on February 5, 1917 that restricted the immigration of 'undesirables' from other countries, including "idiots, imbeciles, epileptics, alcoholics, poor, criminals, beggars, any person suffering attacks of insanity. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Immigration Act of 1924 establishes fixed quotas of national origin and eliminates Far East immigration. -
Immigration Act of 1965
The Immigration Act of 1965 abolishes quota system in favor of quota systems with 20,000 immigrants per country limits. Preference is given to immediate families of immigrants and skilled workers.
