This term refers to a legal concept in the United States during the late 18th century that restricted citizenship privileges to individuals who were both free and considered white. It excluded people of African, Native American, Asian, and other non-European descent from becoming citizens.
Related terms
Naturalization Act of 1795: This legislation extended the requirements for citizenship by adding a two-year residency requirement and declaration in court.
Alien and Sedition Acts: A series of laws passed in 1798 which targeted immigrants by lengthening residency requirements for citizenship and making it easier to deport foreigners deemed dangerous or undesirable.
Dred Scott v. Sandford: A Supreme Court decision in 1857 that ruled African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be considered citizens under the Constitution.