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Declaration of Independence, America's Colonists protested England’s "limiting naturalization of foreigners in the colonies"(Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, Defining citizenship 2020) and wrote a legal document to ensure their independence.
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"U.S. Constitution, under Article I, Congress is “to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization,” which
gave the federal Government sole authority over immigration" (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, Defining citizenship 2020) -
"Describes basic rights under the new government now that America is independent"
Only 10 Amendments (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, Defining citizenship 2020) -
Established federal rules and practices to follow for people who are not born in the U.S to become U.S. citizens
"permitted "free whites" of good character with two years' residence in the United States to become naturalized citizens but African Americans were not granted the same citizenship"(Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, Defining citizenship 2020) -
"Following the Mexican War, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo extends citizenship to all people living in the territory now added to U.S. land, Residents had one year to choose whether they wanted American or Mexican citizenship; More than 90 percent chose American citizenship".(Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration, Defining citizenship 2020)
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Dred Scott filed to filed for his freedom with Missouri court and a long fight ended with the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney declaring that a black man couldn’t be a U.S citizen—and needed to respect the white man -Dred Scott v. Sandford. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/60us393
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Abolished slavery but did not grant former slaves the same rights of citizenship as white men, the Dred Scott Vs. Sanford's case stated that Black men have no rights compared to White men which lead to the civil rights movement. National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship
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Grants all born in the United States are citizens and guaranteed “equal protection of the laws.” Before, many states reserved state citizenship for whites and making African Americans as the Dred Scott Vs. Sandord Case showed. National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship
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Naturalization Act of 1870 extends rights to former African slaves not born in the United States; Asian immigrants remain excluded from citizenship, “free, White persons” of “good character“, who had been resident for 2 years or more still were able to be a citizen. National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship (National Museum of American History)
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"Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is the first U.S. law to ban immigration based on race or nationality; repealed in 1943"
National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship -
Louisiana enacted the Separate Car Act, which required separate railway cars for blacks and whites. Plessy sat in a white car and refused to get up in hopes to repeal the unfair act but was arrested and convicted guilty. The judge found that Louisiana could enforce this law as it affected railroads within its boundaries.
Plessy vs. Ferguson. Oyez. (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/163us537 -
"U.S. Supreme Court rules in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that any child born in the United States, regardless of race or parents’ citizenship status, is an American citizen".
National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship -
"The act stated that Puerto Ricans were entitled to the protection of the United States, but it did not contain a provision for U.S. citizenship" (Library of Congress, n.d.).
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"The first quantitative immigration law. Limited the number of immigrants of any nationality entering the United States. It hurt European Catholics and Jews the most". National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship
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Allows Native Americans to gain U.S. citizenship if they were born in the U.S.
"American Indians, the first peoples of this country, are the last to receive citizenship, many were still denied voting rights by the individual state or local laws". Today in history - june 2. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-02/ -
"The Act made it illegal for any resident or citizen of the U.S. to teach or advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government.
Requires all non-citizen adults to register with the government to keep track of them.
Empowers the president to deport foreigners suspected of espionage or being a security risk". (Puloka, D. The Alien Registration Act of 1940) -
"Said to eliminate race pertaining to immigration or citizenship, repealing the last of the existing measures to exclude Asian immigration, but only allotted new Asian quotas based on race, not nationality, low quota numbers and a uniquely racial construction for how to apply them ensured that total Asian immigration would remain limited" Immigration and nationality act"( USCIS, 2019, July 10).
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"Abolishes the national origins quota system
The new system focuses on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or U.S. residents.
The act provided for unlimited visas for spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens and other increases in immigrant families" Ngai, M. M. (2004). Impossible subjects: Illegal aliens and the making of modern America. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press -
"This law intended to increase border security and establish penalties for employers who hired unauthorized immigrants
It also held the promise of legal status and eventual citizenship to millions of unauthorized immigrants" National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship -
"The Patriot Act is a U.S. law granting law enforcement more powers to prevent terrorist attacks
45 days after 9/11 attack in New York" National Archives and Records Administration. (2020, July 30). Defining citizenship. National Museum of American History. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/democracy-exhibition/creating-citizens/defining-citizenship