What right gave the early Americans to create a law against illegal immigration if they were immigrants too?

Question

Americans take away a land from native Indians then establish laws and regulations against those that try and make their way to America too. Why?

steddy voter - Wow! With an ignorant answer like that how did you ever become a Top Contributor? Avoiding the question is the first sign of ignorance.

Answer 1

According to Naturalization laws in the United States it was the

"Naturalization Act of 1790, which restricted naturalization to "free white persons" of "good moral character" who had resided in the country for two years and had kept their current state of residence for a year. In 1795 this was increased to 5 years residence and 3 years after notice of intent to apply for citizenship, and again to 14 years residence and 5 years notice of intent in 1798" Statutes At Large, First Congress, Session II, p. 103

So basically you had to be a free white male with no debts to be a citizen, since women had no rights of voting or owning land at the time.

Then there was the Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, protects children born in the United States. The phrase: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside" was interpreted by the Supreme Court in the 1898 case United States v. Wong Kim Ark as covering everyone born in the U.S. regardless of the citizenship of the parents, with the exception of the children of diplomats.

The next significant change in the scope of naturalization law came in 1870, when the law was broadened to allow African-Americans to be naturalized.

A little hypocritical if you ask me.

Answer 2

Awsome article. I have recived it before in an email. I 100% whole heartedly agree. The immigrants at ellis Island came here for a life to be an American. My relatives came from Germany this way and legaly filled out papers. They spoke german as well as english but all the relatives Ive ever met all spoke english as a primary language. I know this is the land of the free, but freedom should be only extended to its legal citizens. If you are a guest of this counrty you should act in such a manner, a respectfull manner. If you decide to stay show respect speak the language and follow the laws. And don't fly the flag of your previous home. If you don't like America then go back where you came from. We won't miss you at all.

Answer 3

Early Americans built this country. It was based on laws. Part of the new laws were to establish rules regarding people that wanted to come here. They had a right to do this because they had established a government. How about reading some history books before you post a ridiculous question.

Why are you blasting America for doing this? Every country has laws regarding immigration.

Answer 4

To answer you correctly would take about three pages. I suggest you read up a little on history, I'd say make sure you cover at least 1400 to 1790. Then we can talk about it intelligently.

Edit: Okay, let me explain, then. First of all, the Native Indians were not just living peacefully when someone came in and took over. There were tribal wars that had gone on for centuries. They did not have a belief in land ownership, but they did guard their territories. Some tribes responded to Europeans with justified fear, and immediately attacked, as the Calusa did to Juan Ponce de Leon in Florida in the 1500's. De Soto, too, was brutal toward them, in his explorations in Florida and the Atlantic coast. However, there were also leaders like Wahunsonacock, better known as Powhatan, who had built a small empire of sorts in subduing over 30 other tribal chiefdoms. He at first wanted to befriend the English settlers to aquire guns and other weapons that would help him expand his rule over the other Native Indians. He was an oportunist. His daughter, Pocahontas, even married one of the colonists, John Rolfe. This truce ended later as problem arose over the use and sale of tobacco by the colonists. Despite this first resistance, however, some of the tribes, especially those of the Eastern woodlands, came to appreciate and want the goods brought by the Europeans. They wanted the arms, manufactured goods, metal works, etc. that the Europeans brought. That is when they began signing treaty's and alliances on a more regular basis. There are differences, in how each tribe and colony responded to the other. The Spaniards were by far more brutal than the English and French.

However, by the time full colonization was under way, the Native Indians had become just as dependent upon the colonists and the colonists had upon them. Neither trusted the other, but each had things the other wanted. The Native Indians were able to teach the colonists about the vegetation and wild-life that existed in North America. It was a very shaky co-dependency. When the colonists finally revolted against the King of England, and signed the Declaration if Independence, the colonies only covered a small portion of what is now the U.S. Most of the land was still in the hands of the Indians. And, one of the charges made in the Declaration was "He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands." The revolutionaries believed in immigration, just as we do today. But they also saw the need to have it done in a systematic way. A call for naturalization law is also in the Constitution.

You also need to remember the primitive ideologies of the colonists, in that time frame. There was little understanding of science, and felt that most things that happened, good or bad, were divined by God and didn't know the mechanics of nature. In the case of the Puritans of New England, under the leadership of John Winthrop, they felt that they were destined to create a new and ideal type of society. You cannot measure the colonists by today's standards, anymore than you can say that all of the Native Indians were peaceful people who were suddenly attacked by Europeans.
I could get into much more detail, but I'm sure I've already used way too much space in trying to explain.

Oh, and the revolutionaries that created the United States sacrificed much more than anyone else ever had to to become citizens. They actually picked up guns, waged war, and won the right.

Answer 5

See this video - great commentary on the immigration debate iin the context of the pilgrims coming to America:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhEl6HdfqWM&feature=PlayList&p=2A49CCFD0E96FE83&index=5

Given the comments on this forum about rounding up, locking up, forcible deportations, and some even propose planting explosive type devices on the border -- the American Indians should have done the same when the ancestors of those commenting here came over from Europe. Look what happened to their life and culture when allowing Europeans to live on this land. If Native Americans had done what the nativists here are proposing, I am sure history would have judged them harshly.

Answer 6

That's what I have asked myself many times. But now to those that are against immigrants, ask yourself: If you were born in the United States, who came to this country as an immigrant from your family? Either, you will be smart and realize that someone in your past family came to this country as an IMMIGRANT, either ILLEGALLY or LEGALLY. If you are ignorant and don't want to realize the truth (for some ignorant reason) you will not want to accept that someone in your family came over to this country as an IMMIGRANT.

Only Native of Americans are those who are not immigrants, however they were not those who built this country, they were forced to leave their lands and were put into government assigned camps and reservations. THAT'S A SHAME. (not respecting even those who were here first...anyways)

Have you ever taken in consideration the lives of many who have died when coming into the United States? Those that cross the border ILLEGALLY, are coming into this country for a goal they CAN'T reach in their own country. I know, "why not stay there and change your country?" I have heard enough of those questions, but WHY didn't your immigrant family stayed in their country to change it? Ask yourself. Because it's hard to change a country where probably corruption is what runs the government.

You gotta start somewher. That's all :)

Answer 7

Survival of the fittest. I think the government no realizes that they were wrong. The Indians can have casinos and their kids go to college free in our attempt to make ammends.

However, the laws are there to protect this country. Too many people are comming here illegally unimmunized and we're having deadly outbreaks of diseases all over because they didn't get all the shots required when you come here legally. My great grandparents come here legally AND learned English. These aliens are severly affecting the economy and the healthcare industry. They take presidence over natural citizens with no healthcare of their own. DOes that sound fair?

Answer 8

It was the law of the land. Fight for what is yours if you don't want it taken. Why do you people insist on crying about an incident that happend like 400 years ago. Mexico should have had a stronger army, and the indians are about to be extinct...(to those who were offended by that, it was a joke.....but it was funny when I heard someone say it) so they aren't complaining. they are being reimbursed through gambling and casino's. If we didnt have immigration laws our country would be overcrowded, and probably a third world country.

Answer 9

your question makes no sense... the law is not against LEGAL immigration it is about ILLegal immigration...get you facts straight and think before you ask!

Answer 10

Moral hypocrisy.