By: Becca Temple
Immigration and Naturalization
Policy
In the time period of 1868-1911, people
wanted to become United States Citizens.
They wanted better opportunities such as
good jobs and houses. However not all
people were accepted to be U.S citizens.
Becoming a United States citizen is quite a
long process and isn’t that cheap.
Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, helped millions of
immigrants become U.S citizens. It was the biggest
immigration inspection center from 1892-1954. Ellis Island
was the largest immigration center on the East Coast. After
the opening of this millions of immigrants came to the U.S
through Ellis Island during the next 40 years. If people were
sick with a contagious disease or had legal problems, they
could be turned away and sent back to their country. Less
than 2% of people who arrived at Ellis Island were not allowed
in the country.
Naturalization
Naturalization is the process of a non-citizen
becoming a legal citizen of the U.S. In order to become a
U.S citizen the person must be able to understand/speak
most of the English language and promise to obey the
laws. The United States does not have to accept
someone as citizen. They can also take away a
naturalized citizenship if they disobey the laws. The U.S
does allow dual citizenship, meaning that person can be
a citizen of more then one country.
During the mid 1800’s millions of U.S immigrants
came from Northern Europe. Mostly from Great
Britain, Germany, Ireland, and the countries of
Scandinavia. Most immigrants that came to the U.S
sailed by a ship. When the immigrants moved here
few could afford to buy homes. In their old country
they worked on farms. Many who came here found
jobs in the cities where most manufacturing took
place. Not many immigrants were skilled in
manufacturing or industrial work. They often took low
paying jobs with long hours.
The Chinese Exclusion
Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a U.S federal law
signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1862.
The Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese people
from immigration to the U.S for 10 years. Congress
continued to renew the law after the 10 year time
period. The law became permanent in 1902 but, in
1943 the Chinese became an important ally with the
U.S against Japan and the law was changed.
Why did immigrants come to the
U.S?
Many immigrants came to the U.S
during this time period for many reasons.
They received a better life and better
opportunities that were life changing to
these people.
Ellis Island, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island
Ellis Island, United States History, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2007,
Section 1 a new wave of immigration, pages 367.
Naturalization, http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-throughnaturalization
Naturalization, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalization
Immigration, United States History, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2007,
Section 1 A new wave of immigration, page 636-641