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1870 The passage of the Naturalization Act of 1870 establishes uniform national rules for citizenship, encouraging immigrants to settle in the United States.
The Chinese Exclusion Act is passed, marking the beginning of racially-based restrictions on immigration. -
The Page Act of 1875 further restricts Chinese immigration by excluding "undesirable" immigrants, particularly those believed to be prostitutes or contract laborers. -
The Homestead Act offers free land to settlers, attracting thousands of immigrants, especially from Europe, to the western frontier.
The railroad expansion across the continent facilitates the migration of immigrants to the West. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act is renewed and expanded, increasing restrictions on Chinese immigrants.
1886 -
The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of welcome and freedom, is dedicated in New York Harbor, becoming a beacon for immigrants.
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The first major wave of Jewish immigrants arrives in the United States, fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe.
The Great Irish Famine of the 1840s continues to influence immigration patterns, with many Irish seeking refuge in the United States. -
The turn of the century marks a significant increase in immigration, particularly from southern and eastern Europe.
1903 -
The Immigration Bureau is established within the Department of Commerce and Labor, centralizing the federal government's efforts in managing immigration.
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The creation of the Bureau of Immigration within the Department of Labor further organizes and regulates the influx of immigrants. -
The Immigration Act of 1917 introduces the first literacy test for immigrants, aiming to restrict entry to those with limited education.
The act also establishes quotas based on nationality, favoring immigrants from northern and western Europe. -
The decade begins with continued high levels of immigration, despite increasing restrictions.
The Red Scare of 1919-1920 leads to increased scrutiny of political immigrants and those suspected of anarchist or socialist leanings. -
The Emergency Quota Act temporarily reduces the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States. -
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, establishes a national quota system that severely restricts immigration based on nationality, favoring those from northern and western Europe while greatly reducing quotas for southern and eastern Europeans, Asians, and Africans.
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The Gentlemen's Agreement between the United States and Japan limits Japanese immigration to the United States.