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First English Settlement
In 1607, the first succesfull settlement was established by the English Settlers. It later became known as Jamestown, and served as the foundation for which America was built. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These acts consisted of four laws that increased regulations on immigrants and citizenship to the United States. They were passed by President John Adams as America prepared to go to war with France. These laws, increased residency requirement for American citizenship, authorized the president to imprison immigrants who were considered dangerous, and restricted speech. -
Mass Chinese Immigration
The 1800's marks the first major documentations of Chinese in the U.S. This was largely due to the Gold Rush. The first Chinese immigrants were widely liked by Americans because they were mostly wealthy merchants. But that population soon got over-run with a large group of unskilled laborers. Because of these new immigrants, acts and laws were passed that decreased the number of Chinese immigrants greatly. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought land from the French that encompassed all (or part of) of at least 15 current U.S. states. Jefferson made the decision of this purchase to help protect trade access into the Port of New Orleans, and to free up passage along the Mississippi River. -
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Irish Potato Famine
Disease and famine were at an all time high in Ireland at this time, which caused a mass immigration of the Irish people into the United States. Ierland's population was said to have decreased about 20-25%. Many of those immigrants ended up in America, sparking more reform to our own immigration laws. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This was one of the biggest restrictive acts on immigration in U.S. history. This act forbid any skilled or unskilled chinese laborer employed in mining to enter the U.S. This was after a blacklash from American mining laborers who felt their jobs and wages were being lowered because of the Chinese. This act also affected the Chinese who were already settled here. If they wanted to leave the country, they had to recieve certification to re-enter. -
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is known as a "gift of friendship" from the people of France. Designed by French historian Edouard de Laboulaye, this monument is a symbol of welcoming immigrants to this country. This shows a bit of inconsistancy dealing with America's view of immigration. -
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Immigration through Ellis Island
http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_island_history.asp
Between the years of 1892 and 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island. It is the site of the first Federal Immigration station, designed by the President at the time, Benjamin Harrison. -
Arizona Achieves Statehood
Arizona is admitted as the 48th state to the United States. -
Magnuson Act
Also known as the Chinese Exlusion Repeal Act, this law allowed Chinese already living in the United States to become naturalized citizens. -
Cuban Adjustment Act
This law allows Cuban citizens who have made it succesfully to America and has been living there for one year to become a legal citizen. Tensions are high and laws are strict between the U.S. and Cuba regarding trading and immigrating/emmigrating. Technically, any Cuban citizen is not allowed to immigrate into the United States. According the the wet foot/dry foot rule of thumb, however, if a Cuban citizen makes it onto U.S. land, he can apply for political asylum and become a citizen. -
Equal Education Act of 1974
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/edu/
This is a federal law of the United States that prohibits discrimation based on race in public schools, and requires them to overcome racial issues that might be occuring. This act allows even illigal immigrant children to recieve a public school education in the United States. -
Prop 203: Anti-Bilingual Initiative in Arizona
Prop 203 is a further initiative against immigrants to Arizona. This law forbids any teacher from speaking to a student in his or her native language. This law also goes against the Equal Education Act of 1974 -
The DREAM Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/DREAM-Act-WhiteHouse-FactSheet.pdfThis is a new congretional bill that offers residency to illegal immigrants of "good moral character" who graduated from a U.S. highschool, entered the U.S. as minors and have lived in the country continuously for five years or more. -
SB 1070
SB 1070 is a law passed in Arizona that is the toughest anti-immigration law of its time. It requires that all immigrants over the age of 14 to carry their registration documents with them at all times. Further, the person can recieve a misdemeaner if he or she is not carrying the appropriate documents.
