1. What Does It Take To Become a Citizen?

2. History of U.S. Citizenship For centuries, millions of people have immigrated to the United States from all over the world. But who was denied their equal rights as citizens?

3. Naturalization Act- 1795 Naturalization Act provides citizenship to “free white persons”

4. Potato Famine- 1840s Irish Potato Famine spurs a mass immigration to the United States

5. Naturalization Act- 1870 The Naturalization act limited American citizenship to “white persons and persons of African descent”, excluding Asians

6. Chinese Immigration- 1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act restricts Chinese immigration

7. 14 th Amendment Citizenship is granted to all persons born or naturalized in the United States Equal rights given to all citizens- included slaves in the U.S.

8. Oriental Exclusion Act- 1924 Oriental Exclusion Act prohibits immigration from Asia, including foreign-born relatives of U.S. citizens

9. Korematsu v. U.S.- 1944 The Supreme Court upheld the decision that the internment of Japanese Americans is constitutional

10. 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act allowed Congress to make citizenship eligible for public benefits for immigrants

11. To Become a Citizen… There are two ways to become a United States citizen: 1.By birth— a.Born in any of the 50 states or District of Columbia 2.Born on American territory Puerto Rico or Guam c.Children born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil

12. To Become Naturalized…Naturalized Sign a Declaration of Intention  Interview with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)  Take a citizenship exam  Oath of allegiance

13. Immigrants and Aliens in the U.S. Aliens vs. Immigrants Aliens: a noncitizen of the United States Immigrants: one who moves permanently to a new country

14. Rights of Legal Aliens Legal Aliens: May stay in the U.S. without becoming a citizen May hold jobs Own property Attend public schools Receive government services Carry ID cards

15. Rights of Citizens Citizens: Vote in elections Run for office Serve on juries Work a government job