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.