Dear ceplair,
Before 1875, the US policy concerning immigration was very open.
Federal regulations with the goal to prevent the immigration of
members of particular groups or nationalities did not exist. This
changed in the second half of the 19th century, and in particular
after 1875, when first Chinese were excluded from immigration, and
then a growing list of persons who were not regarded desirable as
immigrants.
The Naturalization Rule from 1790 required immigrants a two-year
residency in the USA before they could get the citizenship, but
immigration as such was not regulated by this. In 1819, the Reporting
Rule obliged persons such as ships' captains to keep and submit
manifests of immigrants entering the United States for statistical
coverage; but again, this did not confine immigration.
From 1862 on, American vessels were forbidden to bring Chinese
immigrants to the United States. However, this did not affect ships of
other nations.
The first real change to the "open door" policy came in 1875 with the
first exclusionary act, the Page Law, which was the first major
Federal interference in immigration. Designated to henceforth exclude
from coming to the USA various groups seen as undesirable, it banned
convicts, prostitutes and Chinese contract laborers from immigration.
Strict interpretation barred Chinese wives as well as prostitutes.
The 1882 General Immigration Act added paupers, criminals, insane,
ex-convicts, idiots, and those unable to take care of themselves to
the list of persons excluded from immigration to the USA.
Additionally, a tax is levied on newly arriving immigrants. The same
year also saw the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act: For a period
of ten years, no Chinese were allowed to enter the USA, not even for
family reunification. The act was extended for another 10 years in
1892 and 1902, and indefinitely in 1904. It was finally repelled in
1943.
The Alien Contract Labor Laws from 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1891 enjoined
persons from entering the USA to work under contracts.
From 1888 on, Chinese resident in the USA were not allowed to re-enter
the country after a stay abroad, if they could not produce a wife,
children, parents, or property valued over $1000 in the United States.
The 1891 Immigration Act made compulsory that all newly arriving
immigrants had to undergo a medical inspection; those found suffering
from contagious diseases or mental illnesses were forbidden to enter
the country. The act also excluded polygamists, paupers, and persons
convicted of moral turpitude from immigration.
Also in 1891, the Office of Immigration was created to demonstrate the
resoluteness of the government to finally firmly establish Federal
control over immigration.
The next addition to official US immigration policy would not come
before 1903, when epileptics, professional beggars, and anarchists
were excluded from immigration.
Sources:
Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/chinex.htm
(Source: Vincent Ferraro, Mount Holyoke College)
Extension of Chines Exclusion Act, 1892
http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst203/documents/chinese.html
(Source: United States History Since 1876, by M. Kornbluh)
U.S. Immigration Laws
http://www.sru.edu/depts/artsci/ges/hughes/laws.htm
(Source: Slippery Rock University)
Timeline of U.S. Immigration Policy
http://www.closeup.org/immigrat.htm#timeline
(Source: Close Up Foundation)
A Short History of U.S. Immigration Policy
http://www.sackskolken.com/AILA/history.html
(Source: Sacks & Kolken Immigration Lawyers)
Introduction to American Immigration
http://www.macadams.com/introductiontoamericanimmigration.htm
(Source: MacAdams Attorneys)
The Topic: Immigration
http://eduscapes.com/42explore/migration.htm
(Source: EduScapes)
20th Century American Immigration and Migration: A Resource Guide
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/sc24/immigrationmini.html
(Source: Carnegie Mellon University)
Search terms used:
"immigration laws"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22immigration+laws%22+&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=10&sa=N
"immigration policy" usa "19th century"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22immigration+policy%22+usa+%2219th+century%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=20&sa=N
"Chinese Exclusion Act" 1882
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22Chinese+Exclusion+Act%22+1882+&meta=
Hope this proves useful!
Best regards,
Scriptor |
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