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Naturalization Act of 1790
Naturalization was only granted to immigrants who were free white persons. This Act left out American Indians, slaves, and blacks. -
Naturalization Act of 1798
This was an act passed by Congress that increased the amount of time it takes for immigrants to become citizens. -
Irish Potato Famine
The Great Famine in Ireland drove thousands of Irish citizens to immigrate to America. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War and resulted in approximately 60,000 Mexican residents in the New Mexico Territory to gain U.S. citizenship. -
California Gold Rush
Miners immigrated to the U.S. from China, Latin America, Europe, and Australia in search of gold. -
Nativist/Know Nothing Movement
This was a movement of opposition towards Irish and German Catholic immigration due to the growing fear that Catholic immigrants were overtaking the county. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
Act signed into law by Ulyses S. Grant that created a system of controls and penalties of violating naturalization procedures. -
Page Act of 1875 (Asian Exclusion Act)
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that immigration is a federal responsibility, not a state. This law was passed to ban the importation of Asian laborers. -
Immigration Act of 1891
A commissioner of Immigration was established in the U.S. Treasury Department. -
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is the national immigration checkpoint. -
Literacy Requirement
Congress passed a literacy requirement to reduce the number of low-skilled immigrants from entering the U.S. -
Labor Appropriation Act
Established a U.S. border patrol. -
Internal Security Act
After the Korean War, the Internal Security Act was passed in order to ban any Communist foreigners from immigrating to the U.S. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Law passed that forbade employers to hire illegal immigrants. -
Secure Fence Act
This act created a physical barrier along the Mexico-United States border in order to decrease illegal entry and drug trafficking. -
Arizona Senate Bill 1070
Allows Arizona police to ask anyone for their proper immigration documentation during a lawful stop or arrest.
