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.

Racial/Ethnic Population in America, 2000

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.