The history of American immigration is created by its legislation. Laws were passed from time to time to restrict immigration rather than to regulate it.
The history of American immigration is created by its legislation. Laws were passed from time to time to restrict immigration rather than to regulate it. From open door nation, immigration laws have turned America into a zero tolerance country. As late as till 1965, immigration laws of America spelt racism, discrimination and restriction. They changed according to country’s needs. Even the ‘Stimulus Act’ enacted as late as 2009, is restrictive.
From Columbus to Obama and from 1492 to 2009, a plethora of legislations pertaining to immigration into US have come into existence. Many were completely racist. Few were also ‘Hate’ laws. They preferred whites against non-whites. At one point of time, US immigration laws were such that simply knowing their provisions today, we would feel shocked and start wondering as to how a nation known for liberty could even think of enacting such laws. To know as to how the US immigration laws have changed, would be interesting.
It was in the year 1776 that the charter of declaration of independence was adopted by 13 colonies of North America bringing America into existence. Soon thereafter, in the year 1790, the ‘Naturalization Act 1790’ was enacted. It allowed only those who were ‘free white persons of good moral character” and had resided in US for a period of 2 years to be a US citizen.
In 1795, period of residence to become a US citizen was increased to 5 years. The ‘Alien Sedation Act 1792’ authorised US President to expel any alien whom he thought to be dangerous for America. The ‘Naturalisation Act of 1802’ increased the period of residence to become US citizen from 5 to 14 years, which was subsequently reduced to 5 years.
‘California Foreign Minors Tax’ imposed US$3 monthly tax for non-native born citizens of US, who were mainly Chinese. The ‘Anti Coolly Act of 1862’ additionally taxed Chinese workers.
On one hand, US sought to prevent Chinese workers coming to US and on the other hand, by the Homestead Act of 1862, it encouraged immigrants to migrate to US. It offered for cultivation 150 acres of land to a family for 5 years and at the end of that period if the head of the family intended to become US citizen, he was granted ownership of that land!
The ‘Naturalization Act of 1870’ restricted all immigration into US to only white persons and persons of African decent who were brought as slaves.
The ‘1875 Immigration Act’ denied entry to prostitutes and criminals. It also prohibited Chinese Coolly labourers into US. The Immigration Act of 1882 imposed a General head tax of 50 cents on all immigrants who entered US. It also prohibited entries of convicts, lunatics and idiots, persons who were likely to become dependant of state government. In the very same year, ‘Chinese Exclusion Act’ prohibited Chinese from migrating to US.
George Washington became the first president of US in 1789. Chester A Arthur became the 21st president of US in 1881. During the presidentship of the first and the twenty-first president, laws enacted one after another restricted and prohibited immigration into US. It discriminated against non-whites and clearly ousted Asians. The years which followed thereafter saw several other Laws which continued the same attitude and policy.
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