US History and Immigration

  • 10,000 BCE

    Bering Straight Migration

    Bering Straight Migration
    The first humans to enter the North American continent, used a patch of thick ice, called the Bering Straight, to cross from Europe.
  • Jan 1, 1000

    Vikings

    Vikings
    Vikings arrived.
  • Oct 12, 1492

    Columbus sails the ocean blue

    Columbus sails the ocean blue
    Exploration of the American continent began with the "discovery" of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
  • Slaves

    Slaves
    Slaves had begun to be brought over to the United States in 1619 for the agricultural economy of the American colonies.
  • Naturalization Act

    Naturalization Act
    Congress passes the Naturalization Act, which says "…any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States..."
  • Abolition of Slave Trade

    Abolition of Slave Trade
    Congress puts an end to the Slave Trade in 1808.
  • Period: to

    Potato Famine

    The Great Famine in Ireland led to many fleeing the country to come to the United States in search of a better life.
  • Period: to

    Chinese Influx

    Chinese Immigration into the United States began after the California Gold Rush.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

    Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
    This piece of legislation heavily restricted Chinese immigration into the United States.
  • 1891 Immigration Act

    1891 Immigration Act
    This act said that certain classes of individuals were unfit to become American citizens, such as "idiots, insane persons, and paupers".
  • Immigration Act of 1924

    Immigration Act of 1924
    This was a law that limited the annual number of immigrants who could be admitted from any country.
  • Displaced Persons Act of 1948

    Displaced Persons Act of 1948
    This piece of legislation was enacted after WW2, due to the amount of people being displaced. It allowed for a limited amount of time, for these people to be admitted into the United States.
  • Hart Celler Act

    Hart Celler Act
    This signaled a change in attitudes toward who could immigrate into the United States, leading to a huge increase in Asian immigration.
  • Immigration Act of 1990

    Immigration Act of 1990
    This act allowed 700,000 immigrants to come to the U.S. per year through 1992–1994, and 675,000 per year after that
  • Real ID Act

    Real ID Act
    After September 11, security became a major concern when it came to immigration into the United States.