from:
Nationality Act of 1790 - Immigration History
"Congress first defined eligibility for
citizenship by
naturalization in this law, and limited this important right to “free white persons.” In practice, only white, male property owners could naturalize and acquire the status of citizens, whereas women, nonwhite persons, and indentured servants could not. Access to citizenship would become more expansive over time; although, the racial restriction was not eliminated entirely until 1952. This law produced the legal category of “
aliens ineligible for
citizenship” which largely affected Asian immigrants and limited their rights as noncitizens to key realms of life in the United States such as property ownership, representation in courts, public employment, and voting."