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Congress establishes uniform Rule of Naturalization, giving the Federal Government sole authority over immigration.
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The Naturalization Act of 1790 limited US citizenship to white immigrants.
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After the Mexican American War, the people of Mexico were given an option of staying in the Americas or going back to Mexico. If they chose to stay in the Americas, they were considered citizens.
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The 13th Amendment abolished slavery allowing slaves to become citizens.
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The 14th Amendment granted equal protection for all born and naturalized citizens.
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The Neutralization Act of 1870 extended naturalization to include white and persons of African descent to be citizens.
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The Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted to not allow immigration of Chinese people into the US.
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The Jones-Schafroth Act gave Puerto Ricans US statutory citizenship.
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Allowed citizenship to all Native American Indians.
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The Hart-Cellar Act abolished the National Origins Formula removing discrimination against South and Eastern Europeans, Asians, and non-northwestern European ethnic groups.