Naturalization and
Citizenship
Prior to�1906, an alien could become a
citizen by merely taking an oath. After 1906, though, federal laws
required a candidate to appear before a court to prove he could
speak English and�answer questions on American history, civics,
and the Constitution. As a consequence, many immigrants postponed
becoming citizens for decades. The naturalization process took at
least five years. The first step, for those who had resided in the
U.S. at least two years, was to file a "declaration of intent"
with�a court. Any court of record could be used, but most large
cities processed aliens through a U.S. District Court. After three
years�the alien could file a petition for naturalization. If he
knew English and passed the verbal quiz he was awarded a Certificate
of Naturalization.
From 1790-1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens, and women
who married naturalized men automatically became citizens. But American women
who married aliens automatically became aliens; even if they remained in the U.S.
Also, from 1790-1940, children under age twenty-one automatically became
naturalized citizens upon the naturalization of their father.
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