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Evolution of the National Citizenry

By cperna2016

  • Naturalization Clause

    Congress established the new rules for citizenship through naturalization with the Naturalization Clause in the U.S. Constitution.

  • Naturalization Act of 1790

    National citizenship is granted to "free" white people. Only white male property owners were able to hold the status of a U.S. citizen.

  • Treaty Of Hidalgo

    The Treaty of Hidalgo was signed following the Spanish American War. It extended U.S. citizenship to anyone living in the territories that were annexed to the United States.

  • Fourteenth Amendment Ratified

    The fourteenth amendment was amended to include all U.S. citizens born or naturalized in the U.S. including formerly enslaved people.

  • Naturalization Act of 1870

    The Naturalization Act of 1870 extended naturalization rights to "aliens of African nativity or African decent".

  • The Jones-Shafroth Act

    Citizens of Puerto Rico were given U.S. citizenship.

  • Indian Citizenship Act

    Citizenship was granted to any Native Americans born within the United States.

  • IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT OF 1952

    To become a U.S. citizen by naturalization, racial restrictions were no longer in place.