Laws and Regulations
Immigrants have all faced obstacles entering into America. The government has had laws set in motion to both, regulate immigrants from coming in and to prevent the citizenship of some immigrants. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first federal immigration law. This law prevented Chinese immigrants in America from attaining citizenship and kept Chinese people from being able to immigrate into America (Guyette, 2010). It was not only the Chinese that felt the force of the United States government, but also those with mental illness, convicts, and those unable to care for themselves were all barred from entering into the United States. This act would later be repealed in 1943 to show unity among the Allies in WWII (Guyette, 2010).
America also prohibited other immigrants from entering the United States by way of the Immigration Act of 1917. “One of the Key aspects of the 1917 Act was that that people from what was called the Asiatic Barred Zone were restricted from entering the country” (Guyette, 2010). This act was also the cause for the literacy test at Ellis Island; the test targeted all sixteen years old or above immigrants and made them take a test that assessed their English ability.
Many things have changed since the early years of immigration. Now immigrants of the United States can apply for citizenship. Citizenship is granted in different ways for immigrants. Immigrants who are born in the United States are considered to be United States citizens. Others can simply apply for a Naturalization Test. The Naturalization applicants are tested on both their ability to speak English and on their knowledge of United States history and the United States government (“Citizenship," 2011).
America also prohibited other immigrants from entering the United States by way of the Immigration Act of 1917. “One of the Key aspects of the 1917 Act was that that people from what was called the Asiatic Barred Zone were restricted from entering the country” (Guyette, 2010). This act was also the cause for the literacy test at Ellis Island; the test targeted all sixteen years old or above immigrants and made them take a test that assessed their English ability.
Many things have changed since the early years of immigration. Now immigrants of the United States can apply for citizenship. Citizenship is granted in different ways for immigrants. Immigrants who are born in the United States are considered to be United States citizens. Others can simply apply for a Naturalization Test. The Naturalization applicants are tested on both their ability to speak English and on their knowledge of United States history and the United States government (“Citizenship," 2011).