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English Colonists
English colonists land May 13 at Jamestown, Virginia, under the patent of the London Company. -
Slavery
Slaves from Africa and the Caribbean were brought forcibly into the New World as early as 1619. -
The Mayflower
The Mayflower anchors off Plymouth on December 21, and the colonists from England begin to disembark. -
Native American
The U.S. establishes first Native American reservation and policy of dealing with each tribe as an independent nation. -
The first Naturalization Act
The federal government requires two years of residency for naturalization. "Any alien, being free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the U.S." -
Naturalization Act of 1798
The Naturalization Act, passed by the US Congress on June 18, 1798, increased the period necessary for immigrants to become naturalized. -
The Act of Prohibiting Importation of Slaves
Congress bans important of slaves. -
Irish
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 China. -
Supreme Court
Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for states to regulate immigration and to tax incoming passengers. -
New Immigration
Catholic and Jewish immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. -
Cuban and Puerto Rican
Congress establishes a civil government in Puerto Rico and the Jones Act grants US citizenship to island inhabitants. US citizens can travel freely between the mainland and the island without a passport. -
German
The US enters WW1 and anti-Germans sentiment swells at homes. -
Immigration Act 1924
President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill granting Native Americans full citizenship. -
The Immigration of 1965
The Bracero Program ends after temporarily employing almost 4.5 million Mexican nationals.
