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1790
A law was passed defining who could become a citizen if a person was not born here. Citizenship was possible only for someone who was "a free white person". this barred any African or Asian immigrant from becoming a citizen. The law was not revised until after the Civil War. -
Period: to
1880 and 1920
Some 25 million immigrants arrived in the United States. Most came from the countries of Southern and Eastern Europe- parts of the world that were unfamiliar to many Americans -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
The first major law to barred entrance to specific groups because the California Gold Rush and railroad building had attracted many immigrants was passed. Of the men who built the Central Pacific Railroads, most were Chinese. by the 1870's almost half of San Francisco were Chinese. -
Quota Act of 1921
Each country's immigrants were limited to 2 percent of foreign-born residents from that country listed in the U.S. Census of 1890. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Introduced a quota system to the country. -
1965- Immigration Reform Act
Congress passed an Act abolishing the quota system based on national origin. when signed, President Lyndon B. Johnson referred to the old system as "un-American" -
1986- Immigration Reform and Control Act
The Immigration Reform and Control Act penalizes employers for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants, but it gives amnesty to some undocumented immigrants, allowing them a path to eventually apply for citizenship. -
Immigration Act of 1990
Congress wanted to prevent any one country from making up most of the immigrants to the United States. No country could account from more than 7% of total immigrants. -
Immigration Reform Act of 1996
Increased the border patrol staff and stiffened penalties for creating false citizenship papers or smuggling undocumented workers. -
2007
This bill would fine undocumented immigrants and require them to fulfill certain obligations before they apply for citizenship.
