Naturalization Act of 1790 — Citizenship for 'Free White Persons' Only

The first federal Naturalization Act restricted American citizenship to 'free white persons' of good character. The racial restriction ensured that free Black people — even those born in America — were explicitly excluded from a path to full national citizenship. This racialized definition of citizenship persisted in naturalization law until 1870 and was not fully dismantled until the mid-twentieth century.