Final answer:
The Naturalization Law of 1790 allowed white immigrants to become U.S. citizens. It was the first major naturalization law, later followed by the stricter Naturalization Act of 1798 and the restrictive National Origins Act of 1924, both of which reflected the changing political and social climate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Naturalization Act of 1790
The law that allowed white immigrants to become United States citizens was the Naturalization Law of 1790. This law stated that "free white persons" who had lived in the United States for two years could apply for citizenship. It was the first significant legislation regarding naturalization and set the groundwork for future policies on who could become a citizen.
However, the landscape of naturalization laws changed significantly over time. The Naturalization Act of 1798 made the process more stringent by increasing the residency requirement from five to fourteen years. This act also included provisions to register all aliens upon arrival and authorized the President to deport or imprison citizens from enemy nations during times of war. The political climate of the 1790s, with an influx of French and Irish immigrants who leaned towards the Republican party, fed into fears among Federalists and led to these stricter laws.
Further immigration and naturalization restrictions continued with legislation like the National Origins Act of 1924, which limited immigration from certain regions. Over time, exclusive restrictions were relaxed, and today's naturalization laws have removed much of the racially and nationality-based criteria that characterized earlier legislation.