U.S. Citizenship

By brooke.c.wilmu

  • Naturalization Act

    Naturalization Act of 1790 granted citizenship to all free white people

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    Treaty extends citizenship to all people living in the territory annexed to the United States following the Mexican War

  • The Fourteenth Amendment

    Following the abolition of slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, granting everyone equal protection under the laws.

  • Naturalization Act of 1870

    This act extends citizenship rights to former African slaves that were not born in the United States.

  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    The Chinese Exclusion Act bans immigration from China
  • Period: to

    Ellis Island in Operation

    Ellis Island, the processing center for immigrants entering the U.S. via New York, processes its first immigrants in 1892. Over the next 62 years, Ellis Island would see over 12 million immigrants coming to the U.S.

  • United States vs. Wong Kim Ark

    Supreme Court case that decided that any child born in the United States is a citizen of the United States, regardless of the citizenship of their parents

  • Jones-Shafroth Act

    The Act grants citizenship rights to all residents of Puerto Rico

  • First Quota Law

    The first ever quota law is passed, limiting the amount of immigrants allowed per year based on country of origin.

  • Indian Citizenship Act

    Act gives citizenship rights to all Native Americans

  • Chinese Exclusion Act is Repealed

    The Act that was passed in 1882 gets repealed, allowing Chinese immigrants into America

  • Hart-Celler Act

    Act eliminates the national origins quota laws, instead placing emphasis on immigrants skill sets and relationships with U.S. citizens

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

    Act grants citizenship to millions of immigrants in the United States who moved here before January 1, 1982