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Chapter 15.2 Diversity and Equal Protection for Immigrants
• Fact:– Your ancestors
immigrated to the U.S. from another country.
– Question:• How did they become an
American citizen?
Unrestricted Immigration• 1776-1870’s
– No restrictions as to who could come to our country. • Why?
– We needed a larger population of workers!
• Thus, the birth of the American dream…– Freedom– A decent job– Land!
End of the 1800’s
• By 1890– Immigrants made up
over 15% of our population!
• Most became citizens of the United States through naturalization– Legal process by which
immigrants become citizens.
Process of Naturalization1. Move to the United States and live here for 5 years.
2. After 5 years, file form for naturalization.
3. Government examines the forms to make sure immigrant is:– 18 yrs old or older– A good citizen who believes in the Constitution.– Must pass a civil service test in English.
4. Final Hearing– The immigrant swears an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Can you lose your citizenship?
• YES! – Two ways:• Denaturalization
– Loss of citizenship due to giving false information on citizenship application. » Lying about age» Lying about prior legal offenses
• Expatriation– Person voluntarily gives up citizenship to become a citizen of
another country.
Beginning of Immigration Restrictions
• 1882– Congress imposed a taxes on new immigrants• Also turned away
– Criminals– Homeless people – People with mental or physical disabilities
• Plus, immigration from China is banned!!!– Why?
» Chinese workers were taking all of the jobs in California!
Immigration Restrictions..cont.• 1900– Congress passes law to restrict number of Japanese
immigrants to America. • Why?
– They were taking jobs in California now that Chinese couldn’t come.
• 1920’s– After WWI, Europe was destroyed
• Congress passes laws to restrict number of immigrants that could come from anywhere but Europe! – Why?
» We were okay with Europeans coming to America to work, so let them come!
– Who couldn’t come? » Asians, Africans, and Mexicans!
Immigration after 1940’s
• WWII is over, Europe is destroyed….again. – America eases their immigration restrictions to
help people who have no homes. • This includes:
– Most of Europe– Japanese (we dropped 2 atomic bombs on them, remember?)
– From 1945 to 1989• 290,000 immigrants allowed in America per year.
– 120,000 from Western Hemisphere (Asia and India)– 170,000 from Eastern Hemisphere (Europe and Africa)
Latin American Immigration
• Began during 1970’s – Most of Latin America
was having Civil Wars• Huge issues with drugs• Governments were
corrupt
– Over 50% of all immigrants into America from 1970 to today are from Latin America. • Mexico being the biggest
contributor.
Immigration Since 1990
• Immigration Act of 1990– Set new quota for immigration at 675,000 per
year. • That means over 337,500 are from Mexico.
– Those are the ones that we know for sure!
– What about the ones who are sneaking into the country? » Estimated that 4,000,000 Mexicans are living in America
illegally today.
So, what do we do? • Deportation
– Forcibly return any illegal aliens to their original countries.
• One catch….– Congress can offer amnesty
• A pardon that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the United States – They must apply for
citizenship within 3 years.
– Why would we do this?
A Nation of Diversity• Immigration has led to
America becoming a ‘melting pot’
– Benefits of diversity• New cultures• New ideas• New music and traditions
– Challenges of Diversity• Prejudice
– Opinions about others not based on fact, but feelings
• Discrimination– Practice of treating people
differently due to prejudice.
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