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The Naturalization Act of 1790
Established a uniform rule of naturalization and a two year residency requirement for aliens who are free white persons of good moral character -
Irish Potato Famine
A potato disease called potato blight resulted in mass starvation in Ireland. This caused approximately 1 million people to migrate. -
California Gold Rush
The Calidfornia Gold Rush caused immigration from China and also lots of migration from U.S. states -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican-American war and extended citizenship to 80,000 Mexicans that were living in Texas, California, and the American Southwest. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act opened up many plots of land to settlers who agree to live on it for at least five years, which caused immigrants from European countries to immigrate in hopes of their own land. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act restricted all Chinese immigration to the United States for ten years -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island in New York City is the location where over 16 million immigrants were processed. -
Immigration Act of 1917
The Immigration Act of 1917 created the Asiatic Barred Zone, which restricted the immigration from Asia -
Emergency Quota Act
The Emergency Quota Act restricted the immigration from any given country to three percent of the number of people from that country living in America in 1910. -
Border Patrol Is Created
The Border Patrol is created through the Labor Appropriation Act in hopes of reducing the amount of smuggling and illegal immigration. -
Smith Act
The Smith Act, also known as the Alien Registration Act, required all aliens over the age of 14 in the United States to be fingerprinted and registered. -
Simpson-Mazzoli Act
THe Simpson-Mazzoli Act, also known as the Immigration Reform and Control Act, required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status, made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit unauthorized immigrants, legalized certain seasonal agricultural illegal immigrants, and legalized illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously with a fine, back taxes due, and admission of guilt. -
Proposition 187
Proposition 187 barred illegal immigrants from receiving certain state benefits such as health care and public education. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act enhanced border security and enacted new eligibility requirements in order to receive public benefits. -
National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice
Hundreds of thousands of pro-immigration protesters participated in National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice by holding rallies all over the nation, including Phoenix, Arizona and Washington, D.C. -
Bush Assisting the Border Patrol
President Bush sent 6,000 National Guard members to the Mexican border to help the border control with illegal immigration. -
Schwarzenegger Assists the Border Patrol
California Governor Schwarzenegger reluctantly agreed to send 1,000 National Guard members to help the Border Patrol as part of President Bush's plan.
