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Jamestown Colony is established
In 1607 the Jamestown Colony is established, which is the first permanent English settlement in what is now the U.S. These are the first of many immigrants to eventually come here. -
Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony
Members of the English Separatist Church establish the Plymouth Colony in present day Massachusetts. This would be the first of many people to leave their countries for some type of freedom. -
The Great Migration of 1630
"The Great Migration of 1630 took place due to problems resulting from the vicious struggles between King Charles I and Parliament. The Parliament at the time was made up of a large majority of Puritans. Due to the above mentioned struggle over twenty Thousand puritans migrated to the New World between 1630 and 1643."
http://www.helium.com/items/805061-Colonial-Early-American -
Naturalization Act of 1790
"This article of legislation allowed an individual to apply for citizenship if they were a free white person, being of good character, and living in the United States for two years. Upon receiving the courts approval they took an oath of allegiance which was recorded. The individual's citizenship was also extended to any children under the age of 21, regardless of their birthplace. If the applicant had never been a U.S. resident the application was disregarded."
http://library.uwb.edu/guides/u -
1798 Alien Friends Act
Considered one of the Alien and Sedition Acts, and it allowed the government to deport foreigners that the U.S. considered to be dangours and incressed the residency requirements to 14 years to prevent immigrants. -
Slave Importation Banned In US
The importation of slaves was banned in the U.S. Even though there was a ban, slaves were still imported into the U.S. This would be an example of forced immigeration. -
Immigration from Western Europe 1840-1850
A large amount of immigrantes from western Europe, specifically from Germany, because of crop failures and social problems, and Ireland because of the Irish Potato Famine. Over 1.7 million immigrantes came to the U.S. in this decade. -
California Gold Rush
Gold is dicovered at Sutter's Mill. This leads to heavy migration to California form the East and it also spurs migration from china. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act
The act was made to prohibit immigration from China for a period of ten years. It also, prohibited Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens. -
1890 Southern and Eastern Europe Immigration Begins
During the decade of the 1890s, immigration trends switch to immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. This brings in large numbers of Jews and Catholics, which cause anti-immigration reactions. -
Naturaliztion Act of 1906
The Act required immigrants to learn English to become naturalized citizens. -
Border Patrol Established
The border patrol is created to prevent illegal entry into the U.S. at the U.S./Mexico and U.S./Canada borders. -
The War Brides Act
After World War II, the act allowed non-Asian spouses, natural childeren, and adopted childeren of military personnel to enter the U.S. Over 100,000 people entered under this act. The act expiered in December of 1948. -
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The Act required employers to check employees immigration status, made it illegal to hirer unauthorized immigrates and legalized seasonal agriculral immigrates. -
SB 1070
SB 1070 was signed into law by Arizona's Governer Brewer. It became the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immergration law in resent U.S. history. The law created positve and negative reactions in Arizona and across the U.S.
