It seems to be common knowledge that the United States is a country of immigrants. The “American Dream” carries thousands people’s hope and encourage them to work hard to build their own homes and establish a sense of belonging in the land of freedom and democracy. However, the country of immigrants never fully opened its door to all kinds of people. A question has existed since the nation was established: Who can legally become a citizen of the United States? The answer has been changing over time. In the period from 1790s to 1920s, the United States used race as a fundamental tool to determine who can legally become a citizen by implementing the Naturalization Act of 1790, the Fourteenth Amendment and several Supreme Court cases. In addition to race, non-racial requirements, such as moral fitness and language proficiency, also played a critical role. Specifically during this period, unless born in U.S., Asian ethnic group could not be granted …show more content…
Cindy Chen, “Who gets to be an "American”? (lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, February, 2012)
[ 2 ]. Cindy Chen, “Who gets to be an "American”?
[ 3 ]. Cindy Chen, “Who gets to be an "American”?
[ 4 ]. Cindy Chen, “Obtaining the Right to Citizenship” (lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, February, 2012)
[ 5 ]. Mitchell Young, “Establishing Citizenship Rights for Children of Immigrants” in Immigration: Issues on Trial (Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008), 33.
[ 6 ]. Cindy Chen, “Asian Immigration to the U.S.” (lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, February, 2012)
[ 7 ]. Ian Honey Lopez, “The Struggles Against Exclusion: Quest for Naturalization Rights,” in White By Law (New York: New York University Press, 1996), pp.56-61
[ 8 ]. Cindy Chen, “Race” (lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, January, 2012)
[ 9 ]. United States V Bhagat Singh Thind, 1922, pp.