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Individual rights are established in this document, but citizenship only pertains to white, land-owning males.
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The Constitution is ratified by all 50 states. In this document, citizenship is not clearly defined, but this documents officially excluded slaves, native people, and women from natural rights.
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The first law to establish uniform rules for naturalization in the United States. These requirements only applied to free white people.
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Grants Mexican residents in the territories acquired following the Mexican-American war citizenship, although they still faced widespread discrimination
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Legally abolishes slavery, although it does not grant free slaves the same rights as citizens
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Gives citizenship to any person born in the U.S., including freed slaves. Although freed slaves had the same legal rights as white men in the eyes of the government, state governments and people still discriminated against African Americans.
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An amendment is added to the Naturalization Act of 1790 to include African Americans but still excludes Asian people.
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The first law to restrict immigration based on nationality, this law prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating and prohibited them from becoming citizens.
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Grants citizenship to Native Americans
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Establishes a clearer path to becoming a U.S. citizen.
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The first time that Asian Immigrants have the opportunity to become U.S. citizens, but also imposes quotas on how many could be allowed.
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Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or nationality
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Abolishes all immigration quotas