Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. The naturalization process is completed in a court of law. Immigrants to the United States have never been required to apply for citizenship though.
What did it take to become an American citizen?
In 1795 a 5 year residency law was enacted. In 1798, a new law was enacted raising it to 14 years. In 1802, the 1798 law was repealed and the original 5 year law of 1795 re-enacted.
The acquisition of citizenship was a three-fold process
Step 1: Declaration of IntentionThe first step was filing what is called a Declaration of Intention. It is a court statement that you wish to renounce forever your allegiance where you are now subject and become a citizen of the United States and permanently reside here. The Declaration was valid for 7 years from the time it was filed.Step 2: Petition for NaturalizationThe second step was to file what was called a Petition for Naturalization. To file this petition you had to be a continuous resident in the United States for a minimum of 5 years and in the State where the Petition was filed for a minimum of 1 year. This applied to men, before 1922 women could not vote or file for Naturalization on their own – they did however become citizens through marriage. After 1922 also women could file for Naturalization.Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled.Step 3: Certificate of NaturalizationAfter all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her certificate. The certificate is given from the same court the petition is filed in. It is called the Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization.In some States immigrants had to file a Declaration of Intention before filing an application to claim Homestead land (land grant).Military:To serve in the United States military, one need not be a United States citizen. The United States Government passed some naturalization laws to help and encourage new immigrants to serve in the military in their new homeland. These laws made becoming a naturalized citizen easier for the immigrant in military service. Army - Beginning in 1862, the Declaration was waived, and the residency requirement was reduced to one year, for a soldier with an honorable discharge. Navy - Beginning in 1894, with an honorable discharge, the Declaration was waived and the residency requirement was reduced to one year.
Per Hilmer Johnsons’Declaration of Intention which was filed in the Supreme Court of Kings County, Brooklyn, New York City on August 20, 1914. Besides personal information there is also an assurance renouncing all allegiance and fidelity to Sweden and its Head of State King Gustav V (the fifth).The Declaration of Intention was valid for 7 years and the applicant had to file for a Petition for Naturalization within those 7 years.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Declaration of Intentionmade in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Declaration of Intention is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Below is Per Hilmer Johnson's Petition for Naturalization of 1920:Front page:
Front page of Per Hilmer Johnson’s Petition for Naturalization which was filed in the Supreme Court of Westchester County, White Plains, New York on September 22, 1920.Besides personal information there is also an assurance that Per Hilmer Johnson had continuously been a resident in the United States for a minimum of 5 years and in the State where the Petition was filed for a minimum of 1 year. This is certified by two people whose signatures are found in the petition.The paper is very thin tissue type.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Petition for Naturalizationmade in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Petition for Naturalization is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Back page of Per Hilmer Johnson’s Petition for Naturalization which was filed in the Supreme Court of Westchester County, White Plains, New York on September 22, 1920. Here is an assurance that Per Hilmer Johnson is renouncing all allegiance and fidelity to Sweden and its Head of State King Gustav V (the fifth).The Petition for Naturalization was passed on February 25, 1921.The paper is very thin tissue type.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Petition for Naturalization made in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Petition for Naturalization is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Above, Certificate of Citizenship, Walter Sandberg, 1933.The Certificate is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City.
Certificate of Citizenship 1933
After all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her Certificate of Citizenship. Below is the Certificate for Walter Sandberg, The Bronx, New York City from 1933. Walter (Waldemar) was married to Ester Johnson, a sister to Per Hilmer Johnson.
Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. The naturalization process is completed in a court of law. Immigrants to the United States have never been required to apply for citizenship though.
What did it take to become an American
citizen?
In 1795 a 5 year residency law was enacted. In 1798, a new law was enacted raising it to 14 years. In 1802, the 1798 law was repealed and the original 5 year law of 1795 re-enacted.
The acquisition of citizenship was a three-
fold process
Step 1: Declaration of IntentionThe first step was filing what is called a Declaration of Intention. It is a court statement that you wish to renounce forever your allegiance where you are now subject and become a citizen of the United States and permanently reside here. The Declaration was valid for 7 years from the time it was filed.Step 2: Petition for NaturalizationThe second step was to file what was called a Petition for Naturalization. To file this petition you had to be a continuous resident in the United States for a minimum of 5 years and in the State where the Petition was filed for a minimum of 1 year. This applied to men, before 1922 women could not vote or file for Naturalization on their own – they did however become citizens through marriage. After 1922 also women could file for Naturalization.Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled.Step 3: Certificate of NaturalizationAfter all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her certificate. The certificate is given from the same court the petition is filed in. It is called the Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization.In some States immigrants had to file a Declaration of Intention before filing an application to claim Homestead land (land grant).Military:To serve in the United States military, one need not be a United States citizen. The United States Government passed some naturalization laws to help and encourage new immigrants to serve in the military in their new homeland. These laws made becoming a naturalized citizen easier for the immigrant in military service. Army - Beginning in 1862, the Declaration was waived, and the residency requirement was reduced to one year, for a soldier with an honorable discharge. Navy - Beginning in 1894, with an honorable discharge, the Declaration was waived and the residency requirement was reduced to one year.
Per Hilmer Johnsons’Declaration of Intention which was filed in the Supreme Court of Kings County, Brooklyn, New York City on August 20, 1914. Besides personal information there is also an assurance renouncing all allegiance and fidelity to Sweden and its Head of State King Gustav V (the fifth).The Declaration of Intention was valid for 7 years and the applicant had to file for a Petition for Naturalization within those 7 years.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Declaration of Intentionmade in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Declaration of Intention is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Above, Certificate of Citizenship, Walter Sandberg, 1933.The Certificate is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City.
Certificate of Citizenship 1933
After all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her Certificate of Citizenship. Below is the Certificate for Walter Sandberg, The Bronx, New York City from 1933. Walter (Waldemar) was married to Ester Johnson, a sister to Per Hilmer Johnson.
Front page of Per Hilmer Johnson’s Petition for Naturalization which was filed in the Supreme Court of Westchester County, White Plains, New York on September 22, 1920.Besides personal information there is also an assurance that Per Hilmer Johnson had continuously been a resident in the United States for a minimum of 5 years and in the State where the Petition was filed for a minimum of 1 year. This is certified by two people whose signatures are found in the petition.The paper is very thin tissue type.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Petition for Naturalizationmade in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Petition for Naturalization is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Back page of Per Hilmer Johnson’s Petition for Naturalization which was filed in the Supreme Court of Westchester County, White Plains, New York on September 22, 1920. Here is an assurance that Per Hilmer Johnson is renouncing all allegiance and fidelity to Sweden and its Head of State King Gustav V (the fifth).The Petition for Naturalization was passed on February 25, 1921.The paper is very thin tissue type.This is a copy of Hilmer’s Petition for Naturalization made in the Westchester County Archives, Elmsford, NY.The Petition for Naturalization is shown with consent of Peter Johnson, New York City, son of Per Hilmer Johansson.
Petition for Naturalization from 1920
Below is Per Hilmer Johnson's Petition for Naturalization of 1920:Front page:
