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Declaration of Independence:
- Included: White male property owners.
- Excluded: Women, enslaved individuals, Native Americans, and non-property owners.
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U.S. Constitution:
Included: White male citizens.
- Excluded: Women, enslaved individuals, Native Americans, and non-white individuals. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford:
Excluded: African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not considered citizens. -
14th Amendment:
Included: African Americans born in the U.S. were granted citizenship.
- Excluded: Native Americans were not granted citizenship until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. -
19th Amendment:
- Included: Women were granted the right to vote.
- Excluded: Discrimination against women of color persisted.
-
Chinese Exclusion Repeal:
- Included: Chinese immigrants were granted the right to become naturalized citizens.
- Excluded: Asian immigrants faced discrimination and exclusion.
-
Voting Rights Act:
Included: African Americans were granted equal voting rights.
- Excluded: Voter suppression and discrimination persisted in some areas. -
Immigration and Nationality Act:
Included: Immigration quotas were abolished, allowing for more diverse immigration.
- Excluded: Discrimination against immigrants from certain regions continued. -
Obergefell v. Hodges:
Included: Same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide.
- Excluded: LGBTQ+ individuals faced discrimination and lack of legal recognition in the past. -
Timeline
This timeline illustrates the evolving and changing nature of national citizenry in the United States, highlighting the progress made in expanding rights and inclusion while also acknowledging the history of exclusion and discrimination faced by marginalized groups.