Evolution of National Citizenship

  • No Clear Lines

    During the pre-civil war time there were no clear lines about national citizenship. This topic was controversial because some people thought they should have the states rule a persons national citizenship whereas others believed in birth citizenship.
  • Black Men are National Citizens

    In 1860 all free black men were considered national citizens.
  • Birth Citizenship

    Civil Rights Act of 1866 was put into place. This gave anyone born or naturalized in the United States the rights to be a national citizen not depended on race.
  • Naturalization Act

    Naturalization Act gave rights to all people of color but neglected to include other races such as asians.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    This Act was about not letting Chinese people come to America because fear of competition which in the end did not give them rights.
  • The Expatriation Act

    The Expatriation Act of 1907 stripped U.S. born women of their citizenship if they married a non citizen immigrant man.
  • Indian Citizen Act

    The Indian Citizen Act of 1924 grants all native americans born in the U.S. automatic citizenship.