1856 The US military imports camels to use in mil itary operations in the Southwest Arab camel drivers are hired and brought to America to work with the animals 1865 Over 5 300 Arab Muslim Americans serve in the Civil War 1869 The opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt makes it possible for more people to emigrate from places like Yemen 1875 Many Arabs arrive through New Orleans Louisiana which provides access to the north and west 1876 The Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia attracts Arab merchants especially those from Palestine They do so well that many stay and peddle items from the Holy Land 1890 Syrians and Lebanese begin to move west Some are attracted to mining in the South West 1892 Kawkab America the first Arabic language newspaper in America begins
1893 The World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago draws many merchants from the Arab world Some Arab American families in the Great Lakes area trace their ancestors to these merchants 1900 Dr Tannous Daoud is elected president of the North Dakota Farming Association 1909 The Department of Justice rules that George Shishim a policeman in Venice California can become an American citizen Until this time few Arabs were allowed to become citi zens because the US government considered them Asian and Asians were denied citizen ship Mr Shishim testified that if he was Asian so was Jesus Christ as they had both been born in the same land 1911 Ameen Rihani is the first Arab American to publish a novel in the United States The Book of Khalid 1915 Al Rabitah al Qalamiyah The Pen Bond a literary association was formed in New York City by Kahlil Gibran and friends 1916 A number of Syrian and Lebanese Americans
join the French army to free Syria from Turkey 1917 The Balfour Declaration issued by the British supports the founding of a Jewish homeland in Palestine 1918 An estimated 14 000 Arab Americans serve in World War I Circa 1920 An Arab American writers group the Pen League or Al Mahjar immigrant poets is founded in New York City by Kahlil Gibran and friends 1923 One of the most famous books of all time The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran is published THE PROPHET KALIL GIEAN 1924 The United States Immigration Act of 1924 bars immigration from Arab countries 1929 The first mosque in America is founded in Ross North Dakota 1939 1945 An estimated 30 000 Arab Americans
serve in World War II 1947 8 The state of Israel is created displacing thousands of Palestinians some of whom come to the United States as refugees 1948 Air Force Colonel James Jabby Jabara becomes America's first military jet ace pilot 1949 Entertainer Danny Thomas founds the Ameri can Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities to help raise money for St Jude's Children's Hospital which opens in 1962 1950 Attorney George Kasem the first Arab Ameri can congressman is elected 1965 The Immigration Act of 1965 removes quotas based on national origin 1967 After the third Arab Israeli war more Pales tinians emigrate to the United States 1974 Journalist Helen Thomas becomes the first woman to serve as chief of the White House reporting staff for United Press International 1976 Arab Americans protest the inclusion of many words insulting to Arabs in the Merriam Web ster dictionary 1980 Former US senator James Abourezk founds the American Arab Anti Discrimination Com mittee ADC a civil rights organization that defends the rights of Arab Americans and pro motes their rich cultural
