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Federal Naturalization Act
The naturalization act stated that any free white person of good character could be a citizen of the US. They had to live in the US for five years and stay in the state where they applied for citizenship for a year and take an oath to support the constitution. Included: Any free white men, single or window, and married white woman and the children of naturalized citizens.
Excluded: Indigenous people, people of African descent, both free and enslaved, and Asian immigrants. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American war and extended citizenship to all the Mexicans living in the territory annexed to the US. Although Mexican-Americans were allow to vote, but they faced intimidation from white Americans that limited their access to vote.
Included: Mexicans
Excluded: Indigenous people, people of African descent, both free or enslaved, and Asian Immigrants. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott Decision was established when an African slave called Dred Scott sued for his freedom. The supreme court denied his request stating that all people of African descent, free or enslaved, could not become citizens of the United States, and they had no right to sue. Excluded: Black people, People of African descent, both free or enslaved. -
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment was passed by the congress abolishing slavery in the United States. The amendment outlawed the practice of involuntary servitude. This amendment abolished slavery, but it did not grant full citizenship rights to formerly enslaved people. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
The ratification of the fourteenth amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, thereby granting citizenship to all formerly enslaved people, and guaranteed all citizens equal protection of the law. Included: Black people who were born in the United States, both men and women, and United States born children of immigrants.
Excluded: Indigenous people and Asian immigrants. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
The new Naturalization act widen the eligibility for citizenship by extending naturalization rights to former African who were not born in the United States. Included: All White persons and persons of African descent.
Excluded: Indigenous people and Asian Immigrants -
The Jones- Shafroth Act
The Jones-Shafroth act was signed granting United States citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico. The Jones Act separated the branches of government for Puerto Rican government, provided civil rights to the individual, and created a locally elected bicameral legislature. Included: Puerto Ricans
Excluded: Indigenous people and Asian immigrants. -
Snyder Act of 1924
Congress conferred citizenship on all indigenous people or native Americans and guaranteed birthright citizenship to them. Indigenous people were denied the right to vote in many states, and they faced many barriers to voting like the African-Americans in the United States. Included: Indigenous people or native Americans, both men, women, and children.
Excluded: Asian immigrants. -
McCarren-Walter Act of 1952
The McCarran- Walter Act is an immigration act that ended Asian exclusion from immigrating to the United States and eliminates race as a bar for citizenship making Asians eligible to become citizens of the United States. Included: Asian Immigrants