-
Declaration of Independence (1776)
The Declaration of Independence is signed disallowing England for stating procedures of Naturalization (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Nationality Act of 1790
First law implemented discussing how immigrants can become US citizens. Additionally designated eligibility of naturalized citizens but only included white males (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Ban on Importation of Slaves (1803)
Congress passed a bill in 1803 to ban the importation of slaves into the United States, although it illegal importation of slaves continued. -
Indian Removal Act (1830)
This act forcefully removed Native Americans that lived on the eastern side of the Mississippi river out west. Leading to the Trail of Tears (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Treaty made after the Mexican-American War annexing part of the now United States and giving citizenship to anyone still living in the annexed regions. (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
People v. Hall (1854)
A case in which the California Supreme Court ruled that a Chinese man's witness testimony was inadmissible in court. Which denied Asians, Native Americans, and African Americans from testifying against whites in court (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
The Dred Scott decision had the Supreme Court rule that free slaves and slaves were not considered American citizens (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
President Lincoln used an executive ordered to outlaw slavery in the Confederacy (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Thirteenth Amendment Approved (1865)
The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States, leading to the freedom of millions of slaves (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Burlingame Treat of 1868 (1868)
Secured rights for Chinese immigrants to immigrate and travel throughout the United States (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Fourteenth Amendment Ratified (1868)
The 14th amendment was based to give protection to now free black slaves from black code laws. This amendment granted citizenship to anyone born in the United States, which included now many former slaves (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Naturalization Act of 1870 (1870)
This act gave citizenship to former African slaves who were not born in the United States, but did excluded Asian immigrants (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Chy Lung v. Freeman (1875)
Supreme Court decision that stated the federal government has full control over immigration regulation (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Angell Treaty of 1880 (1880)
Updated the Burlingame Treaty of 1868 by restricting the migration of Chinese workers (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (1882)
Banned immigration of Chinese immigrants to the United States (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Elk v. Wilkins (1884)
Supreme Court decided that 14th amendment did not cover Native Americans and excluded them from voting (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Immigration Bureau Established (1891)
The United States authorized the establishment of the Immigration Bureau. The Bureau both processed immigrants coming into the US and enforced restrictions (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Supreme Court ruled that establishments were able to racially segregate and it did not violate the 14th amendment (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898)
Supreme Court ruled that any child born in the United States regardless of race was an American citizen (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Expatriation Act of 1907 (1907)
Took away citizenship from women when they married noncitizen immigrant men (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Jones-Shafroth Act (1917)
Granted American citizenship to Puerto Rican residents (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Immigration Act of 1917 (Barred Zone Act) (1917)
This act restricted immigration from the Middle-East to Southeast Asia, stating it was a barred zone. Additionally, added a literacy test to the immigration process (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Emergency Quota Law (1921)
Emergency law enacted by congress to limit the number of immigrants coming from a particular country (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Cable Act of 1922 (1922)
Gave citizenship back to women who were married to immigrant husbands (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act) (1924)
Put in place an extended national quota system to restrict the number of immigrants coming from a country (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 (1924)
Finally granted Native Americans citizenship under the 14th amendment and the right to vote (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Undesirable Aliens Act of 1929 (Blease's Law) (1929)
Made it illegal to cross the United States border outside of an official port of entry (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 (1934)
Congress put immigration restrictions on Filipinos from entering the United States since they were now an independent nation (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Alien Registration Act (1940)
Requires non-citizen adults to register with the federal government and allows the president to deport foreigners that are deemed threats (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Executive Order 9066 (1942)
President Roosevelt issued this executive order to round up and incarcerate Japanese Americans living 100 miles off the west coast. They were held until 1945, the wars end. (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Repeal of Chinese Exclusion (1943)
Congress repealed the Chinese Exclusion laws, allowing Chinese immigrants the same rights as Europeans (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Immigration and Nationality Act (1952)
Removes race as a restriction from immigration to America (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act) (1965)
This act set still standing principles used for immigration today. Additionally, it capped immigration from within the Americas (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Plyer v. Doe (1982)
Supreme Court ruled that public schools cannot refuse to let in unauthored immigrant children (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) (1986)
This acts grants amnesty to individuals living in the country before January 1st, 1982 (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Patriot Act (2001)
Broadens the scope of the Immigration and Nationality Act of illegal aliens to be deport which now includes terrorists (National Museum of American History, n.a.). -
Homeland Security Act (2002)
Created the department of Homeland Security, which looked deeply into immigration after the attacks on 9/11 (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (2012)
Gave protection from deportation for people who came into the country as minors before June 15th, 2007 (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) 2014
Executive order passed my President Obama to stop deportation of parents of American citizens (Immigration History.org, n.a.). -
Muslim Travel Ban (2017)
A ban imposed by President Trump against travel and immigration from selected Muslim countries. The third version of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court (Immigration History.org, n.a.).