Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Practice Exam

What does the Naturalization Act of 1790 stipulate about citizenship?

1. All men regardless of race could apply for citizenship

2. Only free white men of European descent could become citizens

3. Women were granted citizenship alongside men

4. Citizenship required land ownership

The correct answer is: Only free white men of European descent could become citizens

The Naturalization Act of 1790 is a significant piece of legislation in U.S. history as it established the criteria for naturalization. The act specifically stipulated that "any alien, being a free white person," could be admitted to citizenship, which inherently limited the eligibility to free white individuals of European descent. This provision reflected the social norms and racial attitudes prevalent at that time, privileging a specific demographic group in the application for citizenship. The stipulation did not encompass all men regardless of race, as it explicitly excluded people who were not white, such as African Americans and Native Americans. Moreover, while women were typically not included in citizenship discussions at that time, they were not granted citizenship alongside men under this act, highlighting the gender restrictions of the era. There was also no stipulation in this act requiring land ownership as a condition for citizenship, further distinguishing this piece of legislation from others that may have had property requirements. Thus, the act's focus on "free white" eligibility is what makes this answer correct.