Indian Citizenship Act
6/2/1924
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The Indian Citizenship Act extended citizenship to the approximately 125,000 Native Americans who were still not recognized as American citizens in 1924. This act (Public Law 68-175, 43 STAT 253), also known as the Snyder Act, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to American Indians.
After World War I, honorably discharged Native American veterans had been granted citizenship for their service. Not long afterwards, many urged naturalization for all of America’s indigenous peoples who were not yet recognized as American citizens. Determining that "it was only just and fair that all Indians be declared citizens," Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act.
Although Native Americans were finally recognized as "citizens" of the United States in 1924, the overall impact on their rights was minimal. Under the act, Native Americans still retained their tribal affiliations and rights to tribal property. This part created confusion over Native American rights. It led future Government officials to believe that Native Americans were not full American citizens, and therefore not entitled to all of their rights.
Many tribes remained as wards of the Government, and the right to vote was slow to arrive for Native Americans in certain states. It would be decades before Native Americans were allowed to vote in all 50 states.
Although Native Americans were finally recognized as "citizens" of the United States in 1924, the overall impact on their rights was minimal. Under the act, Native Americans still retained their tribal affiliations and rights to tribal property. This part created confusion over Native American rights. It led future Government officials to believe that Native Americans were not full American citizens, and therefore not entitled to all of their rights.
Many tribes remained as wards of the Government, and the right to vote was slow to arrive for Native Americans in certain states. It would be decades before Native Americans were allowed to vote in all 50 states.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 299828
Full Citation: Act of June 2, 1924, Public Law 68-175, 43 STAT 253, which authorized the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to Indians.; 6/2/1924; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/indian-citizenship-act, October 13, 2024]Activities that use this document
- American Indian Voting Rights through History
Created by the National Archives Education Team - The 19th Amendment and the Road to Universal Suffrage
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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