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United States Constitution
The Constitution provided a framework for the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, including the right to vote, the right to bear arms, and the right to freedom of speech and religion. -
Naturalization Act of 1790
This was one of the first acts of the United States Congress establishing rules for granting naturalized citizenship. It allowed only free white persons of good moral character to become U.S. citizens and required them to have lived in the country for at least two years and to take an oath of allegiance. These restrictions excluded indentured white servants, Native Americans, and Asian and African descendants. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican-American War and ceded new territories to the U.S. The treaty granted citizenship rights to Mexican nationals residing in the territories that were ceded, they were given the option of relocating to Mexico or staying in the U.S. and becoming citizens. However, the treaty did not clearly define the citizenship status of Indigenous people living in the annexed land, nor did it provide a pathway to citizenship for black people enslaved in those territories. -
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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Former slave Dred Scott sued the executor of his former master under the state-diversity jurisdiction, seeking he had become free because his master brought him into free territory voluntarily. Chief Justice Taney concluded that Scott was not a citizen of any state for purposes of the diversity jurisdiction because the Constitution limited both state and national citizenship on racial grounds, generally excluding individuals like Scott who were of African descent. -
Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
It confers state citizenship to national citizens who reside in a state but does not identify legal benefits. This clause reversed a portion of the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which declared that African Americans were not and could not become U.S. citizens or enjoy the privileges and immunities that came with citizenship. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
The Naturalization Act of 1870 addressed the issue of citizenship eligibility for Black people who had been excluded from the 1790 Act. It extended citizenship to Africans regardless of their former slave status or whether they were born in or outside the U.S. While it was a major step in expanding citizenship eligibility, the law still excluded citizenship for Native Americans and many ethnic groups from Asia. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Chester A. Arthur signed a federal law that prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering the country and barred Chinese nationals living in the U.S. from becoming citizens. This Act was the first major law restricting immigration into the U.S. and was designed to appease anti-Chinese sentiment and perceived threats to U.S. labor. It was not repealed until 1943 when the U.S. needed China as an ally to fight against Japan in World War II. -
Creation of Office of Immigration
Now known as the U.S. and Immigration Services, was not created as a single entity but rather through a series of legislative acts. The creation of the Office of Immigration reflects the evolution of citizenship policies and practices in the United States and highlights the importance of efficient and effective administration of immigration-related issues. -
Opening of Ellis Island
Ellis Island played a critical role in the immigration history of the U.S. During its peak years, between 1900 and 1914, more than one million immigrants passed through Ellis Island. Most of these immigrants were from southern and eastern Europe and were heavily discriminated against when they arrived. Italian Americans were not considered White and had difficulty finding jobs because of discrimination. It was not until the1950s that Italians were considered White. -
19th Amendment
Finally, after over 100 years of protest, women were allowed to vote in 1920. Despite the decades-long contributions of Black women to achieve suffrage, poll taxes, local laws, and other restrictions blocked women of color to vote. Black men and women often faced violence and intimidation while trying to vote. It would take more than 40 years for all women to achieve voting equality. -
Immigration Act of 1924
This was a federal law that established strict quotas for immigration to the U.S. based on national origin. It established quotas for immigration from each country, limiting annual immigration from each country to 2% of the total people of that country living in the U.S. This effectively restricted immigration from Europe. This also excluded all immigrants from Asia with the exception of Japan, which was limited to 100 people a year. Mexican and Latin immigrants were not subject to quotas. -
Indian Citiznenhsip Act
This was a landmark law that granted citizenship to all Native Americas born in the U.S. Prior to this act, Native Americans were not recognized as citizens unless they had renounced their tribal affiliations and taken up residency outside their tribe. It was a crucial step toward the inclusion of Native Americans, yet it did not grant citizenship to Native Americans living on reservations. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
The Act expanded eligibility for citizenship to include people of all races and ethnicities, including Native Americans and Asians. It also strengthened the requirements for language and knowledge of history and government. Female citizens could transmit citizenship to their children regardless of their husband's nationality. Previously, women who married non-U.S. citizens could lose their citizenship and were excluded from transmitting citizenship to their children. -
Immigration Act of 1990
The Immigration Act of 1990 brought significant changes to the U.S. immigration policy. It was aimed at increasing the number of legal immigrants in the U.S. and promoting family reunification. It created a diversity visa program, which allocated visas for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. This was significant in the evolution of citizenry policy in the U.S.