103, enacted march 26, 1790) was a law of the united states congress that set the first uniform rules for the granting of united states citizenship by naturalization. In practice, only white, male property owners could naturalize and acquire the status of citizens, whereas women, nonwhite persons, and indentured servants could not Access to citizenship would become more expansive over time Although, the racial restriction was not eliminated entirely until 1952 This law produced the legal category of “ Congress established its first uniform rule of naturalization through the naturalization act of 1790.
United states congress, “an act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization,” march 26, 1790. The naturalization act of 1790 was the first immigration act passed by congress after the constitution was ratified It was passed during president george washington 's first term and would allow free male white persons who owned property to gain citizenship. Over the following centuries, congress readdressed the issue in a series of naturalization acts that sometimes excluded, but increasingly included, people of diverse races and origins. Explore the immigration and naturalization act of 1790, its historical significance, impact on u.s Immigration laws, and its lasting legacy.
An emerging racial hierarchy was reflected in the determinations of who was allowed to become a citizen. Responding to george washington’s first address to congress and reflecting a complaint leveled against king george iii in the declaration of independence, in the 1790 act, the first congress limited naturalization to “any alien being a free white person.” The naturalization act of 1790, enacted by the first us congress, was the first naturalization law passed in the united states after the ratification of the constitution in 1787.
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