The racism that led to the chinese exclusion act of 1882 was not reserved for chinese only. Cable act of 1922 immigration to the united states. The naturalization act of 1870 expanded the privilege to all blacks. October 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the seminal immigration and. And as recently as april 2015, the house judiciary committee. Of the seven sections of the act, much of it seemed to have very little to do with naturalization. In 1870, the right of citizenship was extended to those of african origin. The naturalization act 1870 expands citizenship to whites and africanamericans, while still excluding asians and american indians. Fifty years after its passage, its clear that the laws ultimate effects are at odds with its original intent.
Naturalization act of 1870 on july 14, 1870, grant signed into law the naturalization act of 1870 that allowed persons of african descent to become citizens of the united states. 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. Old law tenements are called this because of their shape. 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. Part iii explains the push for the countrys first comprehensive nationality law. Written by jacob riis, this book had descriptions and pictures of tenement life and how horrible it was. Once the issue of race had been introduced as a part of immigration policy, it was a simple step to use race as a justification for excluding wouldbe immigrants from the united states. Rather, the 1870 rule appeared to apply a color test white persons and those with african origins i. The immigration law volume is a compilation of essays that each. The naturalization act of 1870 extended the naturalization laws to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african descent. Part of the fourteenth amendment commons, and the immigration law commons. American nationals and interstitial citizenship flash. This revised an earlier law, the naturalization act of 1790 that only allowed white persons of.
The 1790 and 1870 naturalization acts restricted naturalization to only white and. Immigrants of asian origins remained barred from naturalization, both through legislation such as the 1882 chinese exclusion act and through a series of court cases that determined asians were not white under the. After the united states had passed the fourteenth amendment on july 9, 1868, declaring that all persons born in the united states are citizens, entitled to equal liberty and protection, then later passed the naturalization act of 1870, specifically section 7, declaring all african descendants the right to citizenship, this gringa thought that the u. After extending naturalization to blacks as africans in 1870, congress banned the naturalization of chinese in 1882. We looked at key immigration laws from 1790 to 2014. In american history this is known as the great wave.
The immigration act of 1965, 50 years later the atlantic. Signed into law 50 years ago, the immigration and nationality act of 1965 had. 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. Fifty years on, the 1965 immigration and nationality act continues. I recently had a chance to read a book that ive been wanting to dive into for years. In 1898 the supreme court decision in united states v. Naturalization act of 1870 the naturalization act of 1870 restricted all immigration into the u.
The obama administrations lawsuit against arizonas senate bill 1070 was novel. The naturalization act of 1870 explicitly extended naturalization rights already enjoyed by white immigrants to aliens of african nativity and to persons of african. Special agency service established as a branch office in the office of the secretary of the treasury. This act may be cited for all purposes as the naturalization act 1870.