How did the Naturalization Act of 1790 lay the foundation for later racialized immigration policies?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Naturalization Act of 1790 specified that only "free white persons" were eligible for citizenship, establishing a precedent for later racially exclusionary policies. While the Act did not explicitly restrict immigration based on country of origin, it laid a foundation for later policies that did so based on race and ethnicity. It also did not allow for deportation based on ideological reasons, nor did it specifically deny Latinos access to social services as they were not the focus of immigration or citizenship debates at the time.

How Did the Naturalization Act of 1790 Lay the Foundation