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The Mayflower
The Mayflower was the first pilgrimage boat to America that landed in 1620. This event changed immigration forever because there was a new "world" to live in. These first pilgrims were from England and they established a constitution after settling in America. People from all over the world would travel to America and live there. America quickly became the "melting pot" of the world. -
Forming of the Constitution
The constitution was written by 55 delagates in 1787 because independence was finally granted to the United States in 1776 and the leaders of the nation decided that it was time to lay down the law. The constitution was created so that nobody in the US could be opressed by religion or a king or law. This constitution set up freedom that had not been seen by any other country and created everyone equal to each other. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American war was sort of a war over land. Who owned what land and fighting over land. The US wanted the land so they could expand and own land that extended from the east to west. The Mexicans already owned this land because their people had already lived there. This changed immigration because Mexicans onced owned the land that America now requires them to apply to live in. Also, this created tension between Americans and Mexicans. -
1848 Goldrush
The California Goldrush changed the face of immigration because the United States rapidly expanded. People from all over the country and world rushed to California which put a large population in one area in a little amount of time. This changed the border of the United States and required a bit of Mexico to have their land taken from them because Americans were taking over to mine for gold. Did this make the Americans immigrants or the Mexicans immigrants? -
Homestead Act
President Lincoln created the homestead act. This act stated that if anyone had lived on a piece of land for five years and had farmed it they could calim the land as theirs. This was awesome for immigrants because they could move to America and start farming, live on the land for five years and have free land that would be theirs. This also scared people in the south because they feared that this would create more free states and help the abolition of slavery. -
The 15th Amendment
The fifteenth amendment is the amendment to the constitution that prohibits the government to deny the right to vote to any US citizen. This chaned the face of immigration because before this amendment was passed US citizens were discriminated against and didn't have the right to vote. Now that people knew that they were guaranteed the right to vote they might be more willing to move to the US because they were granted rights and a voice with their freedom, -
1882 Chinese Exclusion act
This act set a 10 year period that Chineese people were not allowed to become American citizens. This act was extended for another years, and then abolished in 1943.This act obviously affected immigration because a certain race was no longer allowed to become American citizens - a certain group of people were being discriminated against. This was a huge change because America was supposed to be the melting pot. This event is similar to the way Americans are treating Mexicans. -
Ellis Island
Ellis Island was an island off the coast of New York that sorted through immigrants to be sure that no new diseases were coming into America and that people were being documented for. This changed immigration because tons of people were required to go through a security check to get into the country and were tested and documented. This was great progress on immigration and keeping track on who is in the country, Ellis island started the documentation process that we have in the US today. -
Border Patrol
Border patrol was invented and put into place in 1924. The reason tht border patrol was created was to keep weapons of mass distruction and terriorism out of the United States. The border patrol is now also used to keep illegal immigrants out of the country and to keep drug cartells out of the country. This effects immigration because people can't just walk across the border, they have to go through stations and be approved to cross through a passport. -
Alien Registration
Alien registration was invented for a security measure to see who was living in the United States. This required any immigrants who had not been naturalized to register with a US marshal. This changed immigration because the US was wanting more and more to increase their security measures and know who was in the country. This was only the beginning of the security measures that are taken today. Alien registration cards are now issued in the US -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The civil rights act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate against people due to race, color, religion, sex or origin. This right influenced immigration because people knew that when they moved to America they could now get a job because they wouldn't be denied due to their race. They also knew that they could vote and use all the resources and public services that were available in America. This act made America more free than it already was. -
Naturalization Act of 1965
The naturalization act of 1965 made families the most important part of immigration. It changed immigration from just 2% of people moving to America from one country to having visas issued. This is important because less families are not being seperated now. This is important because a family is a part of life and is a support system to many people. People need their family and it is important for American citizens - even immigrants to have their families to support them. -
Patriot Act
The Patriot act was created in 2001 after the attacks on the United States on September eleventh. This act allowed the government to track the money that people put into banks and ask for identification when opening a bank account. This act also allows the government to track library records and phone records. This changes immigration becacuse if you are foreign it is more likely that the government will track your bank account and phone calls. -
USCIS creation
In 2003 the depeartment of immigration was merged with the department of US security. This majorly effects immigration because the department of immigration being a part of the department of security almost comes across as a threat to immigrants. It makes them feel like they are a threat to the country. This also makes it more difficult for immigrants to get into the country. The department of security can run more tests and determine if a person is safe to enter America. -
SB 1070
SB1070 was a law passed in Arizona stating that the police in Arizona can pull anyone over if there is any resonable suspicion that the person driving the car is not a citizen of the United States. This has changed immigration because the state of Arizona has made it legal to arrest someone due to the color of their skin. This is like a demiscration against race which is illegal in the United States. This changes the factos of immigration because now you have to carry your immigration papers.
