The Naturalization Act of 1790 was the first law in the United States to establish rules for granting citizenship to immigrants. It laid the foundation for American naturalization policy but was highly restrictive in its eligibility criteria.

Key Provisions of the Act: 1. Eligibility: • Limited naturalization to “free white persons” of “good character” who had lived in the United States for at least two years. • Excluded enslaved individuals, Native Americans, and non-white immigrants. 2. Residency Requirement: • Applicants needed to reside in the U.S. for two years and in the state of application for at least one year. 3. Good Character Requirement: • Applicants were required to prove they were of good moral character. 4. Children of Citizens: • Children of U.S. citizens born abroad were granted citizenship, provided their fathers were citizens. 5. Legal Process: • Applicants had to apply for citizenship through a court, swearing allegiance to the Constitution.

Impact and Legacy: • Exclusivity: The act established racial and gender restrictions on citizenship, explicitly favoring free white men. Women were not explicitly excluded but were generally tied to the citizenship status of their husbands or fathers. • Foundation of Immigration Policy: It set a precedent for future naturalization laws, many of which would expand or contract eligibility criteria over time. • Changes Over Time: • Subsequent acts increased the residency requirement and eventually expanded eligibility to include non-white individuals (e.g., the Naturalization Act of 1870 allowed African Americans to naturalize).