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English Arrive at Cape Henry in Chesapeake, VA
Very first English colonists arrive in 1607 to start the first successful colony in The New World. -
Naturalization Act of 1790
Passed to allow immigrants to apply for citizenship after living in the US for at least two years. Citizenship was limited to "free white persons of good character." -
Naturalization Act of 1795
Repealed and replaced Naturalization Act of 1790 to increase required residency to 5 years. Created the two-step naturalization process. -
Naturalization Law of 1802
Repealed the Naturalization Act of 1798, and required the collection of the immigrant's name, DOB, nation of allegiance, country of emigration, and place of intended settlement. -
California Gold Rush
Gold found by James W. Marshall in Colorna, California caused approximately 300,000 immigrants and citizens to the state to collect gold. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Prevented working Chinese immigrants from coming into the US. Intended to last for 10 years, it was renewed in 1892 and made permanent in 1902. -
Ellis Island Opens
America's first immigration station. Accepted 3 ships of 700 people on its first day open. -
Naturalization Act of 1906
Established standardized nationalization forms and required immigrants to learn English in order to become naturalized citizens. -
Immigration Act of 1924
President Coolidge signs the Immigration Act of 1924, limiting the annual number of immigrants from any country to 2% of the current population of the people currently living in the US from that country. -
US Border Patrol Established
Created under the US Department of Labor to prevent illegal entries along the US-Canada border and the US-Mexico Border. -
Nationality Act of 1940
Defined who was eligible and not eligible for citizenship and how citizenship could be lost or terminated. -
Magnuson Act
Repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, allowing Chinese immigration and also allowing some Chinese immigrants to become naturalized citizens if they were already living in the US. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Passed by Congress, making it illegal for employers to knowingly hire illegal immigrants, legalized agricultural immigrants on a seasonal basis, and legalized all undocumented immigrants that were in the US before 1982 with proof and maximum knowledge of the United States. -
President Bush Signs the Secure Fence Act of 2006
Required 700 miles of 14 ft fencing to be put up along the US-Mexico border. -
Arizona SB 1070 Signed into Law
Requires any immigrant who has been in Arizona for more than 30 days to register with the government and carry the registration documents with them at all times.
