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Naturalization Act of 1790
"The Naturalization Act of 1790 establishes a uniform rule of naturalization and a two-year residency requirement for aliens who are "free white persons" of "good moral character" (March 26, 1790)." Cited from: http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html As initial immigration came to formation, they were broad and there is no way to judget in an objective way whether someone could be classified as a citizen or not. -
California Gold Rush
The California gold rush spurs immigration from China and extensive internal migration.ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html This event will be important later and paritially explains why the Chinese Exclusion Act was created in later years. -
African Americans gained citizenship with 14th Amendment
Since there was a fairly large population of African Americans in the United States during this time, this should how progress was being made in terms of treating African Americans more like humans (especially they were compared to white people around that time). -
Chinese Exclusion Act
First federal immigration law suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years and barred Chinese in U.S. from citizenship. This was an immigration that excluded a specific race and ethnic group. This is signfiicant in immigration history because a law like this today would not last long at all. -
The Naturalization Act of 1906
"The Naturalization Act of 1906 standardizes naturalization procedures, makes some knowledge of the English language a requirement for citizenship..."
ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html This is the first glimpse of what we see immigration process as it is today in the sense of knowing about language, culture, and country. -
The Immigration Act of 1924
"The act limits annual European immigration to 2% of the number of people from that country living in the United States in 1890. " The limiting of immigration based on country of origin is something has changed since 1924. Excluding particular countries or origin and ethnic groups. -
Immigration and Nationality Act
Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated race as a bar to immigration or citizenship. http://www.flowofhistory.org/themes/movement_settlement/uspolicytimeline.php
Things like the Chinese Exclusion Act was intended for particular racial group but this act made a lot of progress of not singling one population in immigration laws. -
Ellis Island Closes
This island symbolizes individuals coming to the United States and now that it is closed, it sends a subliminal message that United States is as opened as it once was . -
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
"Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) Grants Legal Status to Qualifying Immigrants Who Entered the US Illegally before Jan. 1, 1982" http://immigration.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000023#2000-present Uniformed policy that didn't exclude any racial groups. Back in the 1700's and 1800's, there tended be policies that excluded one or greater groups. -
Armed Forces Immigration Adjustment Act
"Armed Forces Immigration Adjustment Act Gives Special Immigration Status to Foreign Veterans Who Served in the US Armed Forces" http://immigration.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000023#2000-present Individuals that served the United States were allowed to get specifical immigration status for up to 12 years. This is different than the idea of strictly not allowing benefits to any undocumented individuals.This changed from converting them to natural born citizen, which had years befor -
California's Proposition 187
California's Proposition 187 Is Approved by Voters (and Later Rejected by US District Court) denied healthcare, welfare, and education to undcoumented individuals. Almost immediately, it was almost rejected by U.S. District Court -
SB 1070
"Controversial Arizona Bill (SB 1070) Signed into Law to Combat Illegal Immigration." see link for citation In an attempt to regularte illegal immigration, Arizona issued SB 1070, which allowed public officers to ask for verification of citizenship with reason. -
U.S. Patriot Act Amended
U.S. Patriot Act amended the Immigration and Nationality act and broaden the scope of what would make one citizen ineligible for citizenship. By broadening the scope, the ineligible requirements would not be geared to one particular population. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
"DACA to Allow Some Undocumented Immigrants Who Came to the United States as Children to Stay in the Country" Citation from: http://immigration.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000023#2000-present This recognizes undocumented individuals and creating a way to document that while give access to resources that U.S. citizens possess. -
Fifteenth Amendment Ratification
"The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified, granting voting rights to citizens, regardless of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."" Cited from: ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/timeline.html Up until this point of time, citizenship and the right to vote was a privileged only to certain racial groups. Voting symbolizes thet acceptance of different racial groups, opening the door immigration.
