John R. Vile - American Immigration and Citizenship: A Documentary History

1492

Christopher Columbus discovers the Americas and begins a period of European colonization.

1492

Spain expells Jews.

1565

Spanish establish permanent settlement in St. Augustine, Florida.

1607

English immigrants arrive in Virginia and establish the first permanent English colony at Jamestown.

1608

Calvins Case (England) sets forth basic principles of British citizenship.

1619

The first African Americans arrive in Jamestown. The further arrival of women signals that the colony will be permanent.

1620

Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts; adopt Mayflower Compact.

1626

New York founded.

1633

Maryland founded.

1636

Connecticut founded.

1638

New Hampshire founded.

1638

Delaware founded.

1641

Massachusetts adopts its Body of Liberties, which makes provisions for noncitizens.

1641

First Jewish immigrants arrive in North America after Portuguese persecution in Brazil.

1653

North Carolina founded

1663

South Carolina founded.

1664

New Jersey founded.

1682

William Penn founds Pennsylvania.

1689

The Glorious Revolution brings William and Mary to power in England.

1732

Georgia founded.

1740

The Plantation, or Naturalization Act, officially an act for naturalizing such foreign Protestants and others therein mentioned as are settled or shall settle in any of His Majestys Colonies in America, passed by the British Parliament, allowed Protestant aliens residing in the American colonies to become citizens after seven years of continued residency.

17541763

The French and Indian War results in British acquisition of the French colony in Canada.

1755

Benjamin Franklin authors an essay in which he expresses concern over the failure of German immigrants to adopt the English language.

1755

French Acadians are expelled from Nova Scotia and settle in Louisiana.

1758

Emel Vattel writes his Law of Nations , which emphasizes the need for citizen consent.

1776

The United States declares its independence of Great Britain.

1781

The Articles of Confederation, written by the Second Continental Congress, goes into effect. It excludes vagabonds from citizenship.

1782

J. Hector St. John Crvecoeur publishes his Letters from an American Farmer.

1783

The Treaty of Paris ends the war between the United States and Britain and recognizes US independence.

1787

Fifty-five delegates, some of whom were immigrants, meet in Philadelphia and draw up a new constitution that gives greater powers to the national government, including congressional powers over naturalization.

1789

The new Constitution goes into effect, and George Washington is inaugurated as the first president.

French Revolutionaries issue the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens.

1790

The United States adopts its first Nationality Act, which limits naturalization to whites.

1791

Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, issues his Report on Manufacturing.

The requisite number of states ratify the first ten amendments, now known as the Bill of Rights.

1791

French flee to United States after slave revolt in Santo Domingo (todays Dominican Republic).

1795

A new Naturalization Act lengthens the time before immigrants can become citizens.

1798

The United States engages in a quasi-war with France.

1798

A Federalist Congress adopts the Alien and Sedition Acts, the former of which make it more difficult for immigrants to become naturalized citizens.

1803

The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France and guarantees citizenship to those who previously held French citizenship.

1803

The Supreme Court decides in Marbury v. Madison that it has the power to invalidate legislation that is inconsistent with the US Constitution.

1807

Congress adopts a law prohibiting further importation of slaves into the United States.

1812

The United States goes to war against Great Britain again (the War of 1812).

1815

Delegates from New England gather at the Hartford Convention and consider disunion.

1819

Congress adopts the Steerage Act, which provides for an accounting of incoming immigrants.

1820

The American Colonization Society forms with the intention of deporting African Americans.

1820

The Missouri Compromise tries to bridge the widening gap between North and South over slavery.

1837

The Supreme Court decision in City of New York v. Miln allows localities to require bonds from ship captains for arriving immigrants.

18461847

Potato famine in Ireland sends millions to United States.

1848

The United States goes to war with Mexico, which will result in the acquisition of more territory in the US Southwest. About eighty thousand Mexicans become US citizens.

1848

American women meet in Seneca Falls, New York, to demand the right to vote.