American Citizenship: Changes in Rights and Definitions Since 1865

This essay examines the evolving definition of American citizenship from 1865 to the present, focusing on how the concept of who is an "American" deserving of full rights has changed over time. It explores the historical context, causality, and changes in the definition of American citizenship, analyzing the shifts in rights and definitions. The essay discusses the two main sources of citizenship: birthright and naturalization, as well as pathways such as legal application, military participation, and the grandparent rule. It references the 14th Amendment and considers social, cultural, and socio-economic factors influencing the definition of American citizenship, emphasizing the inclusion of various groups and the ethical and civic considerations involved. The essay concludes that the definition of American citizenship has broadened through naturalization, birth, legal immigration, the grandparent rule, and military service.

Running head: AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 1
Who is an American?
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AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 2
Who is an American?
To become an American means to be a true citizen of the United States. Citizenship in
the country is considered as the right to enjoy certain entitlements as it serves as the basis of
fundamental rights, benefits and duties that are specific to American citizens. These entitlements
are protected under the constitution and US laws such as the right of expression, due process,
vote, work and live in the country, besides receiving federal assistance1. The citizenship
implementation needs attitudes that include the allegiance to the American republic, participating
and promoting communities. Some rights are guaranteed not just to the American citizens but to
all people. These include the rights as provided in the first 8 constitutional amendments that
relate to individuals. However, not everyone who falls under the citizenship can vote during
federal elections like the people who live in Puerto Rico.
For one to become a true American, there are two main sources of citizenship in the US
which include; having a birthright citizenship or being born within the United States territorial
limits. The other one is the provision of certain requirements that should be met such as being
born abroad by parents with the US citizenship and naturalization process which involves an
eligible legal immigrant applying for the citizenship successfully2.
There are three ways immigrants have won the right of citizenship and granted the title as
true Americans. These include legal application, military participation and the grandparent rule.
Those applying as legal immigrants to be considered Americans must have various requirements
before they can qualify for the US citizenship. These include being a permanent resident in the
1 Locke, Joseph L. & Wright B. The American Yawp; A massively collaborative open U.S.
history textbook, vol.2: since 1877, 2019.
2 Kettner, James H. The development of American citizenship, 1608-1870. UNC Press Books,
2014.

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 3
country for not less than 5 years, three when married to an American citizen, have a good moral
character or being one who has no felony convictions, and have a sound mind as judged by the
immigration officials3. The others include having the knowledge of the country’s constitution,
having an ability to understand and speak English well unless when one is disabled or an elderly
and passing a simple test related to citizenship process.
The military participation has also been applied as a means of granting people citizenship
in the US. Many people apply for citizenship rights in the country so that they may enjoy the
social and financial benefits therein. Thus, the state applies this strategy of military participation.
It involves encouraging people to take part in dangerous activities such as wars in exchange for
the right to become US citizens4. This applies to legal immigrants who have lived in the country
for some time as little as three months and who wish to take the offer of being US citizens. The
other way involves the grandparent rule which involves extending the right of citizenship to
children whose grandparents were true US citizens. The children must be under the custody of
someone with citizenship. Such a child and parent need to be present in the country for interview
and must take the allegiance oath before they attain eighteen years.
From the analysis, it is clear that, the various ways one becomes a US citizen is through
naturalization, birth, application by legal immigrants, the grandparent rule and through the
military application. These five citizenship pathways are found in the 14th amendment which says
that; all people naturalized or born in the US and jurisdictional subjects thereof are true
Americans of the country and the states where they reside.
3 Locke, Joseph L. & Wright B. 2019.
4 Schuck, Peter. Citizens, strangers, and in-betweens: Essays on immigration and citizenship.
Routledge, 2018.

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 4
References

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 5
Kettner, James H. The development of American citizenship, 1608-1870. UNC Press Books,
2014.
Locke, Joseph L. & Wright B. The American Yawp; A massively collaborative open U.S. history
textbook, vol.2: since 1877, 2019.
Schuck, Peter. Citizens, strangers, and in-betweens: Essays on immigration and citizenship.
Routledge, 2018.