When did Native Americans receive US citizenship?
In the late 18th century, reformers starting with George
Washington and Henry Knox, supported educating native children and
adults, in efforts to civilize them. The Civilization Fund Act of
1819 promoted this civilization policy by providing funding to
societies (mostly religious) who worked on Native American
improvement.
In 1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney expressed that since
Native Americans were "free and independent people" that they could
become U.S. citizens. On June 2, 1924 U.S. Republican President
Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act making all Native
Americans, who were not already citizens, born in the United States
and its territories citizens of the United States.
Prior to the passage of the act, nearly two-thirds of Native
Americans were already U.S. citizens. The earliest recorded date of
Native Americans' becoming U.S. citizens was in 1831 when the
Mississippi Choctaw became citizens after the United States
Legislature ratified the 19831 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.