#1790act

In 1790, the United States wrote its first immigration law. And with one sentence, it decided who counted as “American.”

Citizenship was reserved for “free white persons.” Not because there were no other people here. But because the country was building itself on exclusion.

This wasn’t an accident. It was a blueprint. A boundary drawn in ink and intention.

Every law that came after grew from this beginning. Every family shaped by immigration today still feels its echo.

If you want to read the full piece — it's here: https://lifewithsevence7.blogspot.com/2026/01/part-i-beginning-when-citizenship-was.html