A Timeline of Naturalization Laws Impacting Women

A resource many genealogists often turn to is court records. Those who are able to uncover immigrant ancestors are especially eager to research naturalization documents. Even those elusive female ancestors, surely, will be easily discovered! Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Somewhere between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, interpretation of the law changed. Marital status became intertwined with citizenship status—but only for women.

Download and print this Women’s Naturalization Timeline to help you keep track of which laws were passed when. Knowing this information can help you track down the correct records.

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Naturalization Laws Impacting Women

Listed below are some key dates in U.S. naturalization legislation that had a direct impact on women. Refer to these dates when researching immigrant female ancestors. Referencing these laws may help pinpoint changes in the information required to apply for citizenship.

March 26, 1790

U.S. Nationality Legislation limiting citizenship to “free white persons”; no mentions of restrictions by sex.

March 26, 1804

Courts begin to draw distinctions for women in naturalization law, despite there being no eligibility limit by gender specified; a woman’s marital status is a large factor in determining her citizenship status.

February 10, 1855

Non-citizen women become U.S. citizens by marriage to a U.S. citizen, or through an non-citizen husband’s naturalization.

March 2, 1907

Through the Expatriation Act, citizenship of U.S.-born women is revoked if married to non-citizen, even without leaving the country.

June 4, 1919

The 19th amendment is passed, granting women the right to vote. Citizenship status and political identity of married women becomes less tied to that of her husband’s.

August 18, 1920

The 19th amendment is passed in the House of Representatives on May 21, 1919 and in the Senate two weeks later. On August 18, 1920, the amendment was adopted.

September 22, 1922

The Cable Act (also known as the Married Woman’s Act) repeals the Expatriation Act, with one major exception: female American citizens who married non-citizens of Asian descent can still be stripped of their citizenship.

June 25, 1936

Women who lost their citizenship prior to 1922 can regain it by an oath of allegiance, but only if the marriage was terminated by either death or divorce.