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.