Naturalization

While I was searching for Robert Nelson's immigration and naturalization documents, I came upon Kieran Healy's post, American, where he says, "I am writing this because I do not want to forget how I felt yesterday."  "Yesterday" was the day he became an American citizen after living in the U.S. nearly 20 years. 

I especially enjoyed and appreciated this post because he talks about part of the current naturalization process that I had never thought about much, the actual steps immigrants go through to become citizens -- the paperwork that must be completed to apply, the questions that are asked, the studying that must be done to learn the information to answer the questions correctly, the interview, the ceremony -- all briefly but with insight, in only a paragraph or two.

He mentions the tangle of immigration, politics, power, principle, authority, etc., that is part the current discussion among some in America.  He acknowledges them, yet focuses on his experience:  he writes about how he felt when he was in a room of other immigrants who were all there to take the Oath of Allegiance.    

I know the nationalities of my fellow oath-takers because of the next stage of the ceremony.  This was the Roll Call of Nations.  I did not know this was going to happen.  Every country of origin represented was announced in turn.  As your country was named, you were asked to stand up, and remain standing.  Afghanistan came first.  Then Algeria.  The last person to stand, immediately to my left, was from the United Kingdom.  There were twenty seven countries in all, out of only fifty or so people.  For me this part in particular was enormously, irresistibly moving.  It perfectly expressed the principle, the claim, the myth—as you please—that America is an idea.  That it does not matter where you are from.  That, in fact, America will in this moment explicitly and proudly acknowledge the sheer variety of places you are all from.  That built in to the heart of the United States is the republican ideal not just that anyone can become an American, but that this possibility is what makes the country what it is.  (Please go to Mr. Healy's post to read a continuation of his thoughts!)

Healy's post reminded me not to take citizenship in the United States for granted.  It also sent me to the USCIS Civics Test Textbook, "One Nation, One People," because I wondered if I could pass this qualifying test for U.S. citizenship.  What might I have forgotten from -- or never learned in -- my high school government class more than 50 years ago?  (There are five U.S. territories?!!!)  As an American citizen, I should know the answers without having to study beforehand and without having to answer from multiple choices, right?  They should have become a part of my core knowledge.  (Sadly, I don't think I could have passed the test without studying beforehand.)

These are some of the one hundred questions (in no particular order) asked on the citizenship test:

1. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? 
2. What were the original 13 states? 
3. What are the five U.S. territories? 
4. When was the Constitution written? 
5. Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers. 
6. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? 
7. What did the Declaration of Independence do? 
8. What is an amendment? 
9. What does the Constitution do? 
10. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? 
11. Who did the United States fight in World War II? 
12. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? 
13. Who makes federal laws?  
14. What is the "rule of law?" 
15. What are the Cabinet-level positions? 
16. What are the powers of the federal government? 
17. What powers belong to the states? 
18. What promises do you make when you become a United States citizen?

Having learned a little about the current naturalization process, my mind turned to the process required of our 19th century ancestors to become citizens.  It seemed so much easier then:  live in the country a specific number of years, go to any "court of record," declare one's intention to become a citizen, return several years later, and become a citizen.  I think it was required to take a person to verify the immigrant's identify, yet there was no formal identification required. (When did formal identity become necessary?  After driver's licenses?)  The National Archives's article, "History of the Certificate of Citizenship, 1790-1956," tells me this was the "Old Law" period.  We don't get much helpful genealogy information (name, country of origin, and possibly when the individual came to America) from those records.  What we learn is when an ancestor became a citizen.

I've indexed plenty of naturalization records from the early to mid-1900s for FamilySearch.  Envy set in when I saw all the vital information ancestors had to declare to become citizens (birth date and year; birthplace; name of spouse including maiden name; birthplace of spouse; names of children and birthplaces; place of employment; profession; etc.) sometimes including photographs.  I was also surprised to see that some people were denied citizenship based on their moral (or immoral / less than upstanding) conduct.  I don't know if immigrants who became naturalized citizens during those years were required to take a test, or if it was about declaring allegiance and being morally upright.  

Some connection happened in my mind between Robert Nelson's and Kieran Healy's naturalization processes.  So very different steps in the processes and yet the same outcomes:  the solemn act of giving up citizenship in one's country of birth and adopting a different country as one's own.  As family historians I think for us it's more about the paper (or digital image) and what information we can find there, but as Healy suggests, it's truly more about what happens in the heart and mind.  I suspect that was so for our ancestors who moved to America and became citizens of the United States.  No doubt it was a momentous event for them, too. 

Thank you, Kieran Healy, for sharing your thoughts with us.  And congratulations on your citizenship and welcome to the United States of America.

—Nancy.

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