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The First American Naturalization Law
This law limited naturalization to "free white people of good character". It excluded Native Americans, indentured servants, enslaved people, free black people, and later Asians. -
Naturalization law of 1802
This law was basically the same as before, except resident children of naturalized citizens were to be considered citizens. Also, children born abroad of the U.S. citizens were to be considered citizens. Former British soldiers were banned from being citizens. -
Naturalization Act of 1855
This act states that a child born outside of the U.S. is a citizen of the child's father is a U.S citizen. It also states that alien immigrant women can gain citizenship through marriage to an American citizen or the naturalization of their husband -
The 14th Amendment
The fourteenth amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. including formerly enslaved people and provided all people with "equal protection under the laws". -
The Citizenship Act of 1907
This act states that any American woman who marries a foreigner shall take the nationality of her husband -
The Nationality Act of 1940
This act granted extended eligibility to citizenship to descendants of races indigenous to the western hemisphere. -
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On this day it was declared that human rights are universal. They are to be enjoyed by all people no matter who they are or where they live. That includes civil and political rights like the right to life, liberty, free speech, and privacy.