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The Bill of Rights was first published in 1789, which states the first 10 amendments that outline the basic rights of a citizen. Some of these rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. -
The Naturalization Act of 1790 was a law that was passed that granted free white persons citizenship. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. Granted rights to inhabitants living in the territory annexed to the United States by Mexico. The area includes present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. -
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude unless it was for punishment. Though it abolished slavery, it did not formerly give rights to the slaves. -
The 14th amendment granted people born in the United States citizenship, including those who were former slaves. It also granted "equal protection of the laws" to all citizens. -
The 15th Amendment stated that the voting right of a US citizen should not be denied the right to vote due to race or skin color, therefore giving the right of African American men the right to vote. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese immigration into the United States. It was the first significant law that was passed to ban immigration. Congress passed the law to maintain white "racial purity." -
The United States Supreme Court rules in the court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark that any child born in America, regardless of race or parents' citizenship, is a US citizen. -
The Jones-Shafroth act granted rights to those in Puerto Rico. -
The Indian Citizenship Act gave the rights to all Native American Indians born within the United States. In 1888, women married to US citizens were given citizenship, while in 1919 American Indian veterans of WWI were given citizenship. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated race as a bar to immigration or citizenship.