1740-  Naturalization act for the U.S. required residence for 7 years, sworn loyalty to the Crown, the evidence of Christianity; Catholics were excluded from applying.

1774-  Immigration to the colonies were

1790-  Naturalization is restricted to "free white persons". This required 2 years of residency.

1795-  The residency laws in 1790 were extended 5 years.

1798-  Alien and Sedition acts. Resident "aliens" suspected of being subversives
could be expelled. The residency laws were once again raised to 14 years.

1802-  Reinstated 5 year waiting period.

1808- The federal government made slave trade illegal.

1819-  The Steerage Act regulated the conditions on the ship entering the U.S. ports.

1862-  The passage of the 14th amendment, "All persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens of the U.S. and of the state they live in."

1882-  Chinese Exclusion Act. 10 year exclusion for Chinese laborers.

1885-  Alien Contract Labor Laws prohibit people from entering to work under contracts.

1891- Immigration Act, medical inspection of immigration and exclusion of those suffering from a dangerous disease.

1892-  Chinese Exclusion Act extended for another 10 years. Chinese laborers must have a certificate of residence.

1902-  Chinese Exclusion Act extended indefinitely

1903-  Set literacy test for reading English or some other language including Hebrew or Yiddish. Created Asiatic Barred Zone which excluded immigrants from India, Indochina, parts of Russia, Arabia and Afghanistan. Kept out anyone likely to become a public charge.

1940-  Alien Registration Act- unlawful to advocate overthrow of the U.S.; deport "aliens" who refuse to register and be fingerprinted.

1941-  Refuse visas to "aliens" who would endanger public safety.

1945-  War Bride Act allowed veterans to bring spouses and children above the quota numbers.

1948-  Displaced Persons Act preference to Baltic states while excluding 90% of displaced Jews; those admitted to be deducted from future quotas.

1953-  Refugee Relief Act 214,000 visas to victims of war and disaster, not counted against individual quotas.

1976-  Immigration Act. Immigration limited to 20,000 to each country in the Americas.

1996-  Strengthened border patrols, restricted judicial authority to review deportation cases, set greater penalties for the smuggling of immigrants and voting by non citizens.

1997-  Resident "aliens" with felony convictions may be deported.

By Ashley Prashad
 
 

Home

Sitemap

Interviews

Recipes

Interactive

Back To ThinkQuest