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Declaration of Independence
Protested England’s limiting naturalization of foreigners in the colonies. -
U.S constitution created
U.S constitution created as a document of laws regarding government, guaranteed freedom to citizens -
U.S Constitution update
Article I of the U.S Constitution says Congress is “to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,” eventually giving the federal government the sole authority over immigration. -
James Madison proposes Bill of Rights
Gave 10 Amendments to the U.S constitution -
Bill of Rights Ratified
Became ratified by all states and congress and came into full effect -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
granted citizenship to all inhabitants living in the territory annexed to the United States following the Mexican War. -
Thirteenth Amendment
abolishes slavery, but did not grant formerly enslaved persons the full rights of citizenship. -
Fourteenth Amendment
all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and are guaranteed “equal protection of the laws.” -
Naturalization Act of 1870
extends naturalization rights to former African slaves not born in the United States; Asian immigrants remain excluded from citizenship. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
first U.S. law to ban immigration based on race or nationality -
United States v. Wong Kim Ark
U.S. Supreme Court rules that any child born in the United States, regardless of race or parents’ citizenship status, is an American citizen. -
Jones-Shafroth Act
grants U.S. citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico. -
Indian Citizenship Act
Extends U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans. -
Alien Registration Act
Requires all non-citizen adults to register with the government and empowers the president to deport foreigners suspected of espionage or being a security risk. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 repeal
allowed 105 Chinese-persons to come in per year -
Immigration and Nationality Act
Immigration and Nationality Act eliminates race as a bar to immigration or citizenship. -
Hart-Celler Act
Abolishes the national origins quota system, replacing it with a preference system that focuses on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or U.S. residents. -
Naturalization Act
provides the first rules to be followed by the United States in granting national citizenship to “free white people.” -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Granted amnesty to millions of individuals living in the United States who entered the country before January 1, 1982. -
Bring Them Home Alive Act
Grants Refugee status to foreigners who return from Korean War POWs/MIAs -
USA Patriot Act
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to broaden the scope of aliens ineligible for admission or deportation to include terrorist activities.