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Nationality Act
This was the first statute to define naturalization eligibility and create requirements and procedures for immigrants to become citizens of the United States. This privilege was initially confined to "free white persons" by Congress. -
Ban on any person of color
Congress banned immigration to free "blacks" because of the Haitian revolution -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty confirmed the United States' annexation of a large chunk of northern Mexico, El Norte, and granted citizenship to Mexicans who chose to remain in the territory as part of the Mexican-American War settlement. -
14th Amendement
The Fourteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 to provide equitable treatment for African Americans following the Civil War, gave birthright citizenship to all people born in the United States. Equal protection and due process were also guaranteed for all legal inhabitants. -
Indian Citizenship Act
By virtue of this rule, all Native Americans born in the United States were automatically citizens. Native Americans were the final major group to benefit from the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.