The naturalization act of 1790 introduced race by limiting the acquisition of citizenship by naturalization to free white persons. The amendment said all persons born or naturalized in the united states, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the united states and state wherein they. The naturalization act of 1870 stated that the naturalization laws are hereby extended to aliens of the african nativity and to persons of african descent 3. The first national push occurred in 1902 to include japan in the renewal of. The 1898 supreme court court decision in united states v. The naturalization act of 1790 specified that any alien, being a free white person, could apply for citizenship, so long as he or she lived in the united states for at least two years, and. Nationality act of 22 july 19 reich law gazette i p. The 1798 act was repealed by the naturalization law of 1802. The congress of the united states was established by article 1 of the united states constitution of 1787. Alternately known as the nationality act, the naturalization act of 1790 restricted citizenship to any alien, being a free white person who had been in the u. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united.
The 1790 and 1870 naturalization acts restricted naturalization to only white. Background history of the united states naturalization process. Soon after the constitution was ratified congress passed the naturalization act of 1790 1 stat. The act and procedure of becoming a citizen of a country is called naturalization. As thousands of immigrants become american citizens this. It specifically targeted irish and french immigrants who were. An act to establish a bureau of immigration and naturalization, h. The naturalization laws were the basis for later restrictions upon immigration, including the notorious chinese exclusion act of 1882.
The making of federal enforcement laws, 18701872 freedom. The first statute in the united states to codify naturalization law. Although the naturalization act of 1790 and subsequent laws were written in a way that suggested citizenship was only available to immigrant men, historian marian l. Dec 25, 2016 the newly formed congress and american government presents and passed the naturalization act in 1870. Congress quickly approved the bill, and the naturalization act of 1790. As amended by the naturalization acts, 1870 see other formats. Huntingtons new book, who are we 2004, openly expressed the grave concern about.
The naturalization act of 1798, part of the alien and sedition acts, was passed by the federalists and extended the residency requirement from five to fourteen years. The following information is courtesy of the rocky mountain regional national archives and records administration. Urbanization and immigration in the late 1800s flashcards. On being called on to pull up the sleeves of his coat and shirt, the skin of his. In boston, about 3,000 blacks, including the veterans of the 54th and 55th massachusetts regiments, participated in the procession held in boston public park. The naturalization act of 1870 explicitly extended naturalization rights already enjoyed by white immigrants to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african descent, thus denying access to the rights and protections of citizenship to other nonwhite immigrant groups. Jun 05, 2015 naturalization act of 1870 president ulysses s. The naturalization act of 1906 included a requirement for speaking english. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america, in congress assembled, that any alien being a free white person, who shall have resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the united states for the term of two years, may be admitted to. First arrivals, first reactions us house of representatives. United states congress, an act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, march 26, 1790. In effect, it left out indentured servants, slaves, and most women. The act created a system of controls for the naturalization process and penalties for fraudulent practices.
Nationality act staatsangehorigkeitsgesetz, stag german law. In 1898 the supreme court decision in united states v. Wong kim ark grants citizenship to an americanborn child of chinese parents. Push factors were crop failures in germany, irish potato famine. After extending naturalization to blacks as africans in 1870, congress banned the naturalization of chinese in 1882. Naturalization act of 1870 united kingdom britannica. Of the seven sections of the act, much of it seemed to have very little to do with naturalization. The naturalization act of 1906 was an act of the united states congress signed into law by theodore roosevelt that revised the naturalization act of 1870 and. When the first chinese immigrants came to these united states, they were met by the naturalization act of 1870 which naturalized only white persons and persons of african descent and left them as asians and their brother latinos without rights or hope of change for. Jun 27, 2017 this act was signed into law on july 14, 1870 by president ulysses s. Smith the evidence that ins administrators were dissatisfied with the agencys racial classification systems, shown by the revision of naturalization forms and elimination of hebrew from the list of races or peoples, makes another ins decision of the time appear. Naturalization act of 1870 a system of controls for the naturalization process and penalties for fraudulent practices. But the act caused fear, even among those who pushed it through. Other articles where naturalization act of 1870 is discussed.
Cities and immigration 3 page worksheet for the gateway to. It also permitted aliens of african nativity and to persons of african descent to become naturalized citizens of the united states. Chinese workers were the targets of significant racial animus from working class whites in western. The obama administrations lawsuit against arizonas senate bill 1070 was novel. Naturalization and immigration us policy timeline timetoast. Every other racial and ethnic groups were excluded and not recognized by the us government as citizens. Wong kim ark granted citizenship to an americanborn child of chinese parents who had a permanent domicile and residence in the united states. Dec 18, 2017 for example, the documents fine print is a cluttered with references to an act in further addition to an act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and alludes to supplemental. However, from the time the first naturalization act was passed. When the first chinese immigrants came to these united states, they were met by the naturalization act of 1870 which naturalized only white persons and persons of african descent and left them as asians and their brother latinos without rights or hope of change for almost eight decades coming to america p.
Sir,i have the honor to transmit to you for publication in the colony under your government, a copy of an order of her majesty in council, declaring the making of a convention with the united states of america under the naturalization act. Race, nationality, and reality, part 3 national archives. The chinese exclusion act of that year, which is primarily an immigration law, included a section directing that hereafter no state court or court of the united states shall admit chinese to citizenship. Serves as an amendment to the immigration and nationality act and the migration and refugee assistance act. The naturalization act of 1870 extended the naturalization laws to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african descent.
This article will appear in professor xi wangs forthcoming book, black suffrage. An act to amend the naturalization laws and to punish crimes against the same, and for other purposes. Repeal of act in relation to additional bounties and for other purposes, is hereby 1869, ch. A glimpse of american history through the process of. This is a three page work sheet i created to be used with the gateway to u. By the naturalization act of 1870 this clause was virtually repealed for all persons who obtain a certificate of naturalization. Being a collection of all of the laws of virginia, from the first session of the legislature, in the year 1619. Act of 1870 in which african americans included to citizenship. This act stated that only white and black people were recognized as citizens. Immigration and nationality law since 1898 summer 2002, vol. Although the law was passed under the guise of protecting national security, most historians conclude it was really intended to. Grant and the 41 st united states congress signed into law the naturalization act of 1870 on july 14, 1870.
Section one determines a jail sentence of one to five years and a fine of one thousand dollars for people who commit perjury in anything related to the naturalization. Us 1992the term white persons included only persons of what is popularly known as the caucasion racewhitecaucasion alien land laws 1923 ladies. The chinese exclusion act of 1882 suspended chinese immigration to the united states for 10 years and declared the chinese as ineligible for naturalization. This act was signed into law on july 14, 1870 by president ulysses s. World ii both served as important pushing force for the centralization of the national. This act shall be termed the naturalization oath act, 1870, and shall be construed as one with the naturalization act, 1870, and may be cited together with that act as the naturalization acts, 1870. Coordinator for refugee affairs and the office of refugee resettlement, and established procedures on how to handle refugees by creating a. The naturalization act of 1870 explicitly extended naturalization rights already enjoyed by white immigrants to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african. Business interests pushed back and president chester a. Motomura explained that in 1868, the 14th amendment comes in and says that african americans born in the united states are u. The 14th amendment and the naturalization act of 1870. The naturalization act of 1795 set the initial parameters on naturalization. The making of federal enforcement laws, 18701872 scholarly. The united states constitution grants congress the power to establish an uniform rule of naturalization article i, section 8, clause 4.
Naturalization act of 1870 by briana watkins on prezi. Naturalization laws in its session of 3 may 1779, the general assembly passed an act declaring who shall be deemed citizens of this commonwealth william w. Immigrants reluctance to pick american when pushed raises questions. Landmarks in immigration history uh digital history. It was created to deal with two immigration issues. In 1870, congress amended the nationality act of 1790 that originally stated, any. Nevertheless, as it was passed by the same congress who enacted the bill of rights, including members who had participated in the constitutional convention, the act of 1790 is thought to be an indicator of what the nations founders thought about the powers of the u. The naturalization act of 1870 expanded the privilege to all blacks. Notice that it took them five years after the civil war to finally give them citizenship. At various other times requirements for reading, writing, and understanding english were proposed see, for example the internal security act 1950, but requiring literacy in any language is a higher bar. Naturalization records, guide to genealogical materials. In 1870, for example, the naturalization act was amended to include aliens of. A naturalborn british subject who has become an alien in pursuance of this act, and is in this act referred to as a statutory alien, may, on performing the same conditions and adducing the same evidence as is required in the case of an alien applying for a certificate of nationality apply.
Chinese exclusion act restricts chinese immigration. For example, the documents fine print is a cluttered with references to an act in further addition to an act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and alludes to supplemental. A glimpse of american history through the process of becoming. Asian american history japanese american citizens league jacl. Naturalization act of 1870 on july 14, 1870 president ulyses s.
Full text of the law of naturalization, as amended by the. Naturalization act of 1870 the naturalization act of 1870 restricted all immigration into the u. The chinese exclusion act the gentlemans agreement tammany hall boss tweed political machines george washington plunkitt washington gladden thomas nast urbanization social services that the bosses and political machines. On this day in 1798, president john adams signed into law the naturalization act, the first of four laws known as the alien and sedition acts. It created a new definition of refugee, raised the limitation from 17,400 to 50,000 refugees admitted each year, established the office of u. However, from the time the first naturalization act was passed in 1790 until 1906, there were no uniform standards. It is also noted for extending the naturalization process to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african descent while also revoking the citizenship of. Peter schuck and rogers smiths 1985 book, citizenship without consent. Naturalization act of 1870 us wikisource, the free online. Pdf a brief history of immigration policy in the united states. Naturalization is the process by which people can become citizens of a country they were not born in. Naturalization acts of 1790 and 1795 george washingtons. Free white persons referred to in naturalization act, as amended by act july 14, 1870, has meaning naturally given to it when first used in 1 stat.
Naturalization act limits american citizenship to white persons and persons of african descent, barring asians from u. The first naturalization act, passed by congress on march 26, 1790 1 stat. This second facet of the yellow peril was argued in lothrop stoddards book. Naturalization act of 1870 the naturalization act of 1870 16 stat.
1220 422 1485 896 819 553 1043 1353 1145 397 208 338 775 560 775 206 652 193 1169 325 586 1334 641 365 913 785 1206 63 1005 415 290 203 1298 1315 927 59 1125 1054 125 709 344