In the Archives: Becoming an American
As I've shared in the past, my great-grandfather August Steinke came to America via ship when he was very young. He was a German immigrant. (According to my past research on Ancestry.com, he arrived at age 3. His obituary says he was 4. Either way, he was young.) Why his father, Julius, brought him and the rest of the family here I don't know. But I do know one thing: he became an American.
According to all three local papers of the day, including this edition of The Herald-Press, August was among a class of three naturalized in Berrien County on April 14, 1910. He was one of 39,448 civilians naturalized that year nationwide, according to the Migration Policy Institute, which, thankfully, has charted naturalization records dating back to 1910.
So what did it take to become a citizen in 1910? You'll notice that some petitioners were dismissed, and others were continued to another hearing. So wanting to become a citizen didn't mean you got to become a citizen. In one instance I ran across from 1911, two men were continue to the next session and "ordered to freshen up their memory on the subject of government." In another instance from 1909, Adolph Steinke of Benton Harbor passed his exam, but was continued to the next session anyway. Apparently one of his two witnesses had known him for five years but only had a speaking acquaintance with him for four years and nine months. The man had seen Adolph in church during the first three months, but hadn't been introduced to him.
Here's how the process worked for most people:
1) Declaration of intent: The first step to naturalization was to declare an intent, under oath, to renounce all allegiance to any foreign governments and become a loyal U.S. citizen. Filing a declaration was sometimes referred to as "taking out first papers," and could be done after living in America for two years. After making a declaration, most applicants had to wait another three years before applying for naturalization. That allowed them to become affiliated with the country and learn about the government. Making a declaration of intent did not make declarants citizens, but they could be conscripted into military service (and in some states vote). So it's easy to see why some people were confused into thinking they were already citizens. The need to declare for citizenship was done away with in 1952, but some people still do it today.
2) Applying for naturalization: Three years after declaring an intent to naturalize, the applicant could petition for naturalization. After an exam with a government official (like you see above), the petition was granted, and the person became a citizen.
There were exceptions to the two-step, five-year process, but this is likely how the process went for August. He wasn't old enough to receive a military exception (though he later served in World War I). He could've received citizenship through his father, Julius, becoming a citizen. But since Julius wasn't listed as receiving citizenship the same day, I doubt that's what happened either.
So what did it take to become a citizen in 1910? You'll notice that some petitioners were dismissed, and others were continued to another hearing. So wanting to become a citizen didn't mean you got to become a citizen. In one instance I ran across from 1911, two men were continue to the next session and "ordered to freshen up their memory on the subject of government." In another instance from 1909, Adolph Steinke of Benton Harbor passed his exam, but was continued to the next session anyway. Apparently one of his two witnesses had known him for five years but only had a speaking acquaintance with him for four years and nine months. The man had seen Adolph in church during the first three months, but hadn't been introduced to him.
Here's how the process worked for most people:
1) Declaration of intent: The first step to naturalization was to declare an intent, under oath, to renounce all allegiance to any foreign governments and become a loyal U.S. citizen. Filing a declaration was sometimes referred to as "taking out first papers," and could be done after living in America for two years. After making a declaration, most applicants had to wait another three years before applying for naturalization. That allowed them to become affiliated with the country and learn about the government. Making a declaration of intent did not make declarants citizens, but they could be conscripted into military service (and in some states vote). So it's easy to see why some people were confused into thinking they were already citizens. The need to declare for citizenship was done away with in 1952, but some people still do it today.
2) Applying for naturalization: Three years after declaring an intent to naturalize, the applicant could petition for naturalization. After an exam with a government official (like you see above), the petition was granted, and the person became a citizen.
There were exceptions to the two-step, five-year process, but this is likely how the process went for August. He wasn't old enough to receive a military exception (though he later served in World War I). He could've received citizenship through his father, Julius, becoming a citizen. But since Julius wasn't listed as receiving citizenship the same day, I doubt that's what happened either.
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