Statutes at Large 16 Stat. 254-256 | ||
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Long title An Act to amend the Naturalization Laws and to punish Crimes against the same, and for other Purposes. Enacted by the 41st United States Congress | ||
The Naturalization Act of 1870 (16 Stat. 254) was a United States federal law that created a system of controls for the naturalization process and penalties for fraudulent practices. It is also noted for extending the naturalization process to "aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent." Due to anti-Chinese sentiment in the western states, other non-white persons were not included in this act and remained excluded from naturalization, per the Naturalization Act of 1790.
History
The Naturalization bill was introduced by Republican Representative Noah Davis from New York in the House of Representatives as bill H.R. 2201 and Republican Senator Roscoe Conkling from New York co-sponsored the bill in the Senate. The act of 1870 was passed by the 41st United States Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on July 14, 1870. Although the act was enacted in the United States Congress during the Reconstruction Era, it is often not noted among the group of major legislative bills passed and enacted during that time period.