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American Revolutionary War leads to the establishment of the United States. Citizenship is initially limited to white, property-owning men. -
The U.S. Constitution is ratified, defining citizenship under Article II. Citizenship is still restricted to free white persons. -
Naturalization Act of 1790 is enacted, granting citizenship only to free white persons of good moral character who have resided in the U.S. for at least two years. -
Importation of slaves to the U.S. is prohibited. -
In the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, the Supreme Court rules that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, cannot be citizens. -
The Civil War ends, leading to the ratification of the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery. -
The 14th Amendment is ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves. -
The 15th Amendment is ratified, granting African American men the right to vote. -
Chinese immigrants face discriminatory laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited their naturalization and limited their immigration. -
Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. This decision provided legal justification for the implementation of discriminatory Jim Crow laws throughout the southern states, which enforced racial segregation in various public facilities such as schools, transportation, and accommodations. -
The U.S. acquires the Philippines and Puerto Rico, granting citizenship to Puerto Ricans in 1917 but denying them full political rights. -
The Immigration Act of 1917 establishes literacy tests and other restrictions, limiting immigration from certain countries. -
The Indian Citizenship Act grants U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. -
Japanese Americans face internment during World War II, highlighting the discrimination they faced despite being citizens. -
The Truman Doctrine grants American citizenship to people from the Philippines. -
The Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision declares racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. -
The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 removes discriminatory quotas and promotes family reunification, leading to increased immigration from non-European countries. -
The Supreme Court's Loving v. Virginia case strikes down bans on interracial marriage. -
The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures equal opportunities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and other areas of daily life. -
The U.S. Census allows individuals to identify as more than one race, acknowledging multiracial identities. -
The Affordable Care Act expands healthcare access to millions of previously uninsured Americans. -
Same-sex marriage had been legalized in all fifty states in the U.S.A. -
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) remains in place, offering temporary legal status to certain undocumented immigrants who arrived as children. -
Discussions and debates surrounding immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and other civil rights issues continue to shape the evolving concept of American citizenship.