The 1790 Naturalization Act stipulated that foreign-born persons could become citizens of the United States only if they were free and White. After the Civil War, this act was challenged successfully on behalf of Blacks. Later, during the first half of the 1900s, a series of court cases made the challenge on behalf of other non-Whites, in particular Chinese, Japanese and Indians. But in each case, they were denied. Even in the case of United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923), where it was pointed out that Hindu Indian identity was derived from Aryan and therefore Caucasian roots, the Supreme Court ruled that was not equal to being White.
In 1868, the 14th Amendment declared, "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.รข" This amendment was the basis for the majority of non-Whites' becoming American citizens.
Looks like something for my history class.