Naturalization is the process for an immigrant to become a citizen. In 1868 the Naturalization Law only allowed white immigrants to apply for citizenship. Although blacks and many Abolitionists demanded a color-blind Naturalization law, the 1870 law would only allow whites and blacks to naturalize. This would open up naturalization to the small number of African-descended immigrants from the Carribean, but prevented Chinese and other Asian immigrants from achieving Americans.
In this article, Senator Charles Sumner presented a pedition from a black convention supporting his effort to pass a color-blind naturalization law.
Evening Post
Monday, Dec 21, 1868
New York, NY
Vol: 67
Page: 4
