- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
One hundred years ago this month, the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, also known as the Snyder Act, granted citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States. President Calvin Coolidge signed the act into law on June 2, 1924, the legislation was the culmination of decades of efforts by both Native American advocates and progressive reformers to secure recognition and rights for Indigenous peoples within the American legal framework.
Though the Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, granted all U.S. citizens the right to vote regardless of race, it wasn't until the Synder Act that American Indians and Alaska Native Americans could enjoy the rights granted by this amendment.
Prior to the Indian Citizenship Act, the status of Native Americans in the United States was complex and often contradictory. Native Americans were considered inhabitants of sovereign nations by treaty agreements, yet they were also under U.S. jurisdiction and often treated as wards of the state. The Dawes Act of 1887 was an earlier attempt to assimilate Native Americans into American society by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments and offering citizenship to those who accepted these allotments and adopted "civilized" ways. However, this approach led to a significant loss of tribal land and did not result in widespread citizenship.
The push for broader citizenship rights gained momentum during World War I. Approximately 12,000 Native Americans served in the armed forces during the war, despite not being recognized as citizens. Their service highlighted the paradox of their contributions to the nation while being denied the full rights of citizenship. This discrepancy fueled public and political support for extending citizenship to all Native Americans.
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was relatively straightforward in its language and intent. It stated: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all non-citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided, That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property." This clause was crucial as it ensured that citizenship did not entail the loss of tribal affiliations or rights to communal property, a significant concern among Native American communities.
Despite its passage, the act did not immediately translate into equal rights or integration for Native Americans. Many states continued to impose barriers that effectively disenfranchised Native Americans, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and other discriminatory practices that were also used against African Americans. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that many of these obstacles were finally dismantled.
Moreover, the granting of citizenship did not address broader issues of social, economic, and political inequality faced by Native Americans. Poverty, lack of access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare continued to plague many Native American communities. Additionally, the federal government maintained policies that undermined tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was an important step in recognizing the legal and civic status of Native Americans, but it was far from a panacea for the myriad issues they faced. It highlighted the complexities of integrating Indigenous peoples into the broader national framework while respecting their unique cultural and communal identities. The Act remains a key historical event, symbolizing both progress and the ongoing struggle for Native American rights and sovereignty within the United States.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Photographs of the Homecoming of the Three Fires Powwow
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
