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1790 Naturalization Act
Congress adopts rules so any free white person could apply for citizenship after 2 years of residency -
1795 Naturalization Act
The naturalization Act is changed to 5 years of residency -
1798 Naturalization Act
The Naturalization Act is changed again to 14 years of residency because of a rise in Xenophobia. It is then reduced to 5 years in 1802. -
1857 Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott descision declares all Africans non-citizens. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
Allows "aliens of African nativity" to become citizens. -
1880-1890 immigrants
More than 5.2 million immigrants entered the U.S. between 1880 and 1890 -
Naturalization Act of 1906
Requires immigrants to learn English before they can become citizens. -
1978 Immgration Act
The immigration caps outlined in the 1965 Immigration Act are replaced with an overall annual limit of 290,000. -
1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) allows immigrants who had entered the U.S. before Jan. 1, 1982, to apply for legal status but required them to pay fines, fees, and back taxes. -
2014 Deportation
On Nov. 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced he was taking executive action to delay the deportation of some 5 million illegal immigrants. Under the new policy people who are parents of U.S. citizens or legal residents will receive deportation deferrals and authorization to work legally if they have been in the U.S. for more than five years and pass background checks