Okla-homey
6/2/2008, 06:01 AM
June 2, 1924: The Indian Citizenship Act
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1402/cool0701014601tz7.jpg
President Calvin Coolidge with four Osage Indians after Coolidge signed the bill granting Indians full citizenship. Source - LOC, LC-USZ62-111409 DLC
Eighty-five years ago today, with Congress' passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, the government of the United States confers citizenship on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the country.
Before the Civil War, citizenship was often limited to Indians of one-half or less Indian blood. In the Reconstruction period, progressive Republicans in Congress sought to accelerate the granting of citizenship to friendly tribes, though state support for these measures was often limited.
In 1888, most Indian women married to U.S. citizens were conferred with citizenship, and in 1919 Indian veterans of World War I were offered the opportunity to apply for citizenship.
"Be it enacted ... that every American Indian who served in the Military or Naval Establishments of the United States during the war against the Imperial German Government, and who has received or who shall hereafter receive an honorable discharge, if not now a citizen and if he so desires, shall, on proof of such discharge and after proper identification before a court of competent jurisdiction, and without other examination except as prescribed by said court, be granted full citizenship with all the privileges pertaining thereto, without in any manner impairing or otherwise affecting the property rights, individuals or tribal, of any such Indian or his interest in tribal or other Indian property."
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8308/cool0701014502vv5.jpg
Indian bonus veteran, ca. 1930 by Theodor Horydczak. The veteran "Bonus Marchers" were demanding a promised bonus payment for their service that they had not gotten. Source - LOC, LC-H823-1475
In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act, an all-inclusive act, was passed by Congress. The privileges of citizenship, however, were largely governed by state law, and the right to vote was often denied to Indians in the early 20th century.
"BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all non citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property. (Approved June 2, 1924)"
Perhaps interestingly, some Indian law scholars question whether an Indian may become president because of the Constitution's limiting language that states the president must be a citizen by virtue of being born in the US. Indians, as you've learned above, are citizens by operation of federal law. Not by birth in the United States.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1402/cool0701014601tz7.jpg
President Calvin Coolidge with four Osage Indians after Coolidge signed the bill granting Indians full citizenship. Source - LOC, LC-USZ62-111409 DLC
Eighty-five years ago today, with Congress' passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, the government of the United States confers citizenship on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the country.
Before the Civil War, citizenship was often limited to Indians of one-half or less Indian blood. In the Reconstruction period, progressive Republicans in Congress sought to accelerate the granting of citizenship to friendly tribes, though state support for these measures was often limited.
In 1888, most Indian women married to U.S. citizens were conferred with citizenship, and in 1919 Indian veterans of World War I were offered the opportunity to apply for citizenship.
"Be it enacted ... that every American Indian who served in the Military or Naval Establishments of the United States during the war against the Imperial German Government, and who has received or who shall hereafter receive an honorable discharge, if not now a citizen and if he so desires, shall, on proof of such discharge and after proper identification before a court of competent jurisdiction, and without other examination except as prescribed by said court, be granted full citizenship with all the privileges pertaining thereto, without in any manner impairing or otherwise affecting the property rights, individuals or tribal, of any such Indian or his interest in tribal or other Indian property."
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8308/cool0701014502vv5.jpg
Indian bonus veteran, ca. 1930 by Theodor Horydczak. The veteran "Bonus Marchers" were demanding a promised bonus payment for their service that they had not gotten. Source - LOC, LC-H823-1475
In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act, an all-inclusive act, was passed by Congress. The privileges of citizenship, however, were largely governed by state law, and the right to vote was often denied to Indians in the early 20th century.
"BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all non citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property. (Approved June 2, 1924)"
Perhaps interestingly, some Indian law scholars question whether an Indian may become president because of the Constitution's limiting language that states the president must be a citizen by virtue of being born in the US. Indians, as you've learned above, are citizens by operation of federal law. Not by birth in the United States.