In 1790 the first naturalization law formed was known as the Nationality Act. This act “restricted citizenship to “any alien, being free white person” who had been in the U.S. for two years” (Densho Encyclopedia). It excluded indentured servants, slaves, and most women, but would later be applied to African Americans, and Asian immigrants on regards to them not being eligible to be naturalized. It is from the Nationality Act that the Naturalization Act of 1798 was founded. The Naturalization Act of 1790 allowed immigrants to become residents after two years of good conduct and behavior and a vow to advocate the Constitution. This also meant that they had to renounce all allegiance to any foreign country, state or province. This also allowed
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The Naturalization Act was a right directly stated that Congress had in the Constitution, while the Sedition Act directly violated the First Amendment. The Alien Friends Act was unlike the Naturalization and Sedition Act because the United States was still young and Congress would have to in essence start fresh in its decision. It would look to the Constitution for guidance, but this was an issue not overtly said, which is why the act was altered many times, “Throughout the month of May, the Senate debated the resulting bill and several amendments to it. At one extreme, it was proposed that the scope of the president’s power be enlarged to include the ability to expel any alien who had been imprisoned for ‘speaking, writing, or printing’ dangerous ideas. At the other, it was proposed that the president be reined in by requiring him to provide the basis for any deportation and deposit a record of his actions in the office of the secretary of state for congress’s perusal” (Berkin 205). On June 21st, due to a majority of seats in Congress being filled by Federalists, the Alien Friends Act was passed. It gave the president authority to order any aliens he viewed as a threat to the peace and safety of the United States, or exhibited any treasonous actions to the U.S. government to leave the United States (Berkin 208). The Federalists defended this Act by stating that the government had the right to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare, according to the Constitution. The opposition would dispute using states rights which highlights a much larger issue in American
The Naturalization Act was a right directly stated that Congress had in the Constitution, while the Sedition Act directly violated the First Amendment. The Alien Friends Act was unlike the Naturalization and Sedition Act because the United States was still young and Congress would have to in essence start fresh in its decision. It would look to the Constitution for guidance, but this was an issue not overtly said, which is why the act was altered many times, “Throughout the month of May, the Senate debated the resulting bill and several amendments to it. At one extreme, it was proposed that the scope of the president’s power be enlarged to include the ability to expel any alien who had been imprisoned for ‘speaking, writing, or printing’ dangerous ideas. At the other, it was proposed that the president be reined in by requiring him to provide the basis for any deportation and deposit a record of his actions in the office of the secretary of state for congress’s perusal” (Berkin 205). On June 21st, due to a majority of seats in Congress being filled by Federalists, the Alien Friends Act was passed. It gave the president authority to order any aliens he viewed as a threat to the peace and safety of the United States, or exhibited any treasonous actions to the U.S. government to leave the United States (Berkin 208). The Federalists defended this Act by stating that the government had the right to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare, according to the Constitution. The opposition would dispute using states rights which highlights a much larger issue in American