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About 100 English colonists reached the coast near Chesapeake Bay. They founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.
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The first arrival of Africans at Jamestown. (Forcefully not willingly) About 20 African Americans.
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Plymouth Mayflower. Massachusetts.
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The U.S. establishes first Native American reservation and policy of dealing with each tribe as an independent nation.
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First United States Naturalization law. Limited naturalization to immigrants who were free white persons of good character. Requires 2 years of residency before applying to become a citizen.
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The Naturalization Act passed. June 18, 1798. Increased period for immigrants to become citizens from 5 years to 14 years.
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Foreign Slave Trade Becomes Illegal; 50,000 Slaves Become First "Illegal Aliens" in the US
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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.
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The California Gold Rush sparks first mass immigration from China.
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California Senate committee investigates the “social, moral, and political effect of Chinese immigration.”
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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.
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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.
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US enters WWI and anti german sentiment swells at home. Names were changed everywhere to sound less germanic.
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Immigration act of 1924 establishes fixed quotas of national origin and eliminates far east immigration. President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill granting native americans full citizenship.
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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.
