Today in History: Indian Citizenship Act

President Calvin Coolidge posed . . . with four Osage Indians

Today in History–June 2–the Library of Congress features the Indian Citizenship Act, enacted on this date in 1924. The act finally granted official U.S. citizenship to to all Native Americans born in the U.S. But because voting rights were governed by state law, some Native American citizens were barred from voting in political elections until 1957. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more stories and primary sources related to Indian, or Native American, citizenship and voting.

“Move on!” Has the Native American no rights that the naturalized American is bound to respect? 1871

As to Court Claimants to Choctaw and Chickasaw Citizenship c 1900

U.S. allotting surveyor and his interpreter making an American citizen of Chief American Horse, Oglala Sioux c 1907

Rodman Wanamaker expedition of citizenship to the North American Indian 1913

Rodman Wanamaker photo

The Boys’ and Girls’ Republic; Text-Book of the Art of Citizenship 1913

Choctaw Citizenship Litigation 1916

Indian Conference Adopts Resolutions The Tomahawk. (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.), 30 June 1921

Indian Citizenship Tested The Alaska Fisherman. (Juneau, Alaska), 15 Jan. 1924

More 1924 historical newspaper coverage

More historical newspaper articles related to Indian citizenship

On voting in Maine: The Life of Henry Mitchell, Indian Canoe Maker 1938-39

Native American Voting Rights Act 21st century

Congress Granted Citizenship to All Native Americans Born in the U.S. from America’s Library

United States Citizenship for the Native American

Voting Rights for Native Americans

Citizenship and Suffrage for Native Americans In Custodia Legis September 25, 2020

Tohono O’odham Citizenship Act legislation from 2001, 2003, 2013