Naturalization Act of 1795
Encyclopedia
The United States Naturalization Act of January 29, 1795 repealed and replaced the Naturalization Act of 1790
. The 1795 Act differed from the 1790 Act by increasing the period of required residence from two to five years in the United States
, by introducing the Declaration of Intention requirement, or "first papers", which created a two-step naturalization
process, and by conferring the status of citizen and not natural born citizen. The Act specified that naturalized citizenship was reserved only for "free white person[s]."
.
intending to naturalize had to go to their local court and declare their intention at least three years prior to their formal application. In the declaration, the immigrant would also indicate his understanding that upon naturalization, he would take an oath not only of allegiance to the United States but also of renunciation of his former sovereign.
In addition to the declaration of intention and oath of renunciation, the 1795 Act required all naturalized persons to be "attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States" and be "well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same."
, which itself was repealed in 1802.
Naturalization Act of 1790
The original United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790 provided the first rules to be followed by the United States in the granting of national citizenship. This law limited naturalization to immigrants who were "free white persons" of "good moral character". It thus left out indentured...
. The 1795 Act differed from the 1790 Act by increasing the period of required residence from two to five years in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, by introducing the Declaration of Intention requirement, or "first papers", which created a two-step naturalization
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
process, and by conferring the status of citizen and not natural born citizen. The Act specified that naturalized citizenship was reserved only for "free white person[s]."
Pre-1795
Before 1795, immigration law was governed primarily by the Naturalization Act of 1790Naturalization Act of 1790
The original United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790 provided the first rules to be followed by the United States in the granting of national citizenship. This law limited naturalization to immigrants who were "free white persons" of "good moral character". It thus left out indentured...
.
Provisions
ImmigrantsImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
intending to naturalize had to go to their local court and declare their intention at least three years prior to their formal application. In the declaration, the immigrant would also indicate his understanding that upon naturalization, he would take an oath not only of allegiance to the United States but also of renunciation of his former sovereign.
In addition to the declaration of intention and oath of renunciation, the 1795 Act required all naturalized persons to be "attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States" and be "well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same."
Post-1795
The Act of 1795 was superseded by the Naturalization Act of 1798Naturalization Act of 1798
The Naturalization Act, passed by Congress on June 18, 1798, increased the amount of time necessary for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States from five to fourteen years...
, which itself was repealed in 1802.