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Constitution Ratification
After the ratification of the U.S Constitution, white male property owners were the only individuals considered citizens worthy to vote. This
excluded women, african Americans, native americans, indentured servants, and slaves -
Naturalization Bill
The Congress established federal procedures and criteria for foreign-born individuals to become U.S. citizens. These allowed free white individuals of good standing who had resided in the United States for at least two years to become naturalized citizens. Additionally, Congress granted that children born abroad to U.S. citizens would be considered natural-born citizens. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott sued his former 'owner' for freedom, arguing he had been taken into a free territory. Chief Justice Taney concluded that Scott was not a citizen of any state for diversity jurisdiction purposes, reasoning that the Constitution implicitly limited citizenship on racial grounds, excluding individuals of African descent like Scott. This ruling was a significant moment in African American history, as Taney described African Americans as 'beings of an inferior order.' -
The Fourteenth Amendment
This Amendment granted citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. -
Fifteenth Amendment
While the Fourteenth Amendment granted rights of citizenship to former slaves, it was not until 2 years later were African Americans given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act was the first major restriction on free immigration in U.S. history. It barred Chinese laborers from entering the country under threat of imprisonment and deportation, and it also made Chinese immigrants permanent aliens by denying them U.S. citizenship.
*I do not condone the offensive image used here, but I included it to provide an educational perspective. It is a real drawing from the time and accurately represents how Chinese immigrants were treated. -
Nineteenth Amendment
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a major Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson. The Court ruled that segregated schools were inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision was pivotal for African American citizenship as it was a major victory in the Civil Rights Movement -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act is a legislation that aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It prohibited literacy tests, provided for federal oversight in areas with a history of voter suppression, and ensured that all citizens, regardless of race, had equal access to the voting process. This act significantly advanced citizenship by empowering African Americans and other minorities, ensuring their fundamental right to vote.