1. Station 3:
We the People?

2. Preamble = We the People, in Order to form a more perfect union…secure the Blessings of Liberty…”
WHAT PEOPLE?

3. “citizens of the states/nation”
The Constitution identifies 3 populations of people:
RIGHTS/FREEDOMS
Guaranteed
NO RIGHTS/FREEDOMS
NO RIGHTS/FREEDOMS
“citizens of the
states/nation”
Indians – members of independent tribes and not part of the nation
“other persons”
(slaves = 3/5 of a person)
BUT WHAT ARE
THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR CITIZENSHIP

4. NO TRUE DEFINITION OF CITIZENSHIP OR SET REQUIREMENTS
The Constitution says….
NO TRUE DEFINITION OF CITIZENSHIP OR SET REQUIREMENTS
BUT…
Because the young United States followed British common law, it accepted the rule of jus soli, or place of birth.

5. How does someone NOT BORN in the United States become a citizen?
According to the Constitution – Congress has the power to…
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization
Fancy word for the process by which
someone not born in a country can become a citizen.

6. Naturalization Act of 1790
A child born in a foreign country is a citizen if the father
was a citizen of the United States.
Restricted the process of becoming a citizen from abroad
to “free white persons” of “good moral character.”