-
The Nationality Act of 1790 was the first law to define eligibility citizenship by naturalization and to create requirements and processes for immigrants to become US citizens. In this early form, Congress restricted this vital privilege to "free white persons."
-
In reaction to European wars, Congress created deportation legislation targeting people deemed political dangers to the United States in the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
-
The Louisiana Purchase adds a large territory to the United States, bringing with it a varied population of Native Americans, French and Spanish immigrants, and African Americans.
-
The ban of the immigration of enslaved Africans in the United States has resulted in a significant expansion in the domestic slave population, notably in the southern states.
-
The "Trail of Tears" forcefully relocated thousands of Native American tribes from their native territories to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Many people perished along the way, and Native Americans endured even more prejudice and marginalization.
-
Indian Removal Act (1830)
During the presidency of Andrew Jackson the Indian Removal Act in 1830 created a law that authorized the confiscation of land from Native Americans and provided resources for their forced removal west of the Mississippi River. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican-American War by surrendering major regions to the United States, including California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and sections of Colorado and Wyoming. This attracts a considerable amount of the Hispanic population.
-
The Supreme Court declares that the right to create and enforce immigration restrictions is a matter of federal authority, not state or municipal jurisdiction.
-
The California Gold Rush draws individuals from all over the world, including Chinese immigrants looking for work.
-
The Supreme Court judgment in Dred Scott v. Sandford denies African Americans citizenship, further entrenching racial prejudice.
-
The Civil War was fought over topics like slavery and state sovereignty. Slavery in the United States was abolished by the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the 13th Amendment (1865).
-
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation presidential order of 1863 released slaves in Confederate states.
-
On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment is enacted, providing citizenship to all anyone born or naturalized in the United States, including freed slaves. This is a key step toward granting African Americans equal citizenship privileges.
-
On May 6, 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is signed into law, banning Chinese immigration and becoming the first federal law to prohibit a specific ethnic group from entering the United States. This indicates rising anti-Chinese sentiment as well as labor competitiveness concerns.
-
On February 8, 1887, the Dawes Act is implemented, with the purpose of assimilation of Native Americans by splitting tribal lands into individual allotments, with the goal of encouraging private landownership and U.S. citizenship. However, it results in the loss of a significant amount of tribal territory and cultural heritage.
-
The Spanish-American War results in the acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, increasing the diversity of the American people.
-
On June 29, 1906, the Naturalization Act of 1906 is signed into law, granting Native Americans U.S. citizenship, but several states continue to deny them voting rights via different discriminatory tactics.
-
On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment is ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote and broadening the concept of citizenship to include women as full participants in the political process.
-
On June 2, 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act is signed into law, providing full U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans, regardless of tribe affiliation.