Women and Naturalization
In general, immigrant women have always had the right to become American citizens, but a succession of laws in the nineteenth century worked to keep certain women out of the naturalization process.
For more information on Women and Naturalization see Women and Naturalization ca. 1802-1940 by Marian L. Smith
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Start your Ancestry free trialNaturalization Special Cases
Wives, Minor Children, Aliens and Military applicants were all considered Special Cases.
Wives
Derivative citizenshipwas granted to wives of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalizedmen automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. Between 1907 and 1922 an American woman who married an alien lost her American citizenship, even if she never left the United States.
Minor Children
Derivative citizenshipwas granted to minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1940, children under the age of 21 automatically became naturalized citizensupon the naturalization of their father. Minor children could also derive US citizenship if their mother married aa American citizen.
Aliens
From 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had arrived in the United States as a minor at least 3 years before their 18th birthday could petition for naturalizationat the age of 21. To locate naturalization records, start your research at the National Archives (NARA)
Choose from the following: Naturalizations before 1906 ~ Naturalizations after 1906 ~ Court & Record Locations ~ Naturalization Process ~ Military Naturalizations ~ Women & Naturalization ~ Passports – Special Cases ~ Denizations
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