US Citizenship Transformation

How did U.S. citizenship change over the course of the 19th century? What was the most significant change in the definition of citizenship, and why is that change important to understand today?

In this class, we have studied how the United States' political systems, expansionist policies, and systems of racial categorization all changed between the nation's independence and the dawn of the 20th century. For your final assignment, consider how one or more of these transformations expanded, limited, or altered who was permitted to be a citizen and what rights they had as an American.

Your paper should contain the following elements:

A introduction paragraph. This first paragraph should include a clear thesis statement of 1-2 sentences in which you present your argument for what was the most significant transformation in U.S. citizenship in the 19th century. You should also include 2-3 sentences that lay out how you will support your claim with evidence through the rest of the essay.

Two to four body paragraphs presenting evidence that supports your claim. Draw from at least five different reputable sources. At least two should be primary sources, and at least three should be from this class's assigned readings. Each source should be quoted directly in your response, and each quote should be followed by a Chicago-style parenthetical citationLinks to an external site.. Pair each quoted piece of evidence with your own explanation of the source's meaning and why it is important for supporting your claim.

Note that the American Yawp textbook only counts as one secondary source for this assignment (you may not use different chapters as "different" sources). However, the primary sources attached to the end of each AY chapter are all distinct sources.

A brief conclusion paragraph (minimum two sentences) addressing why your paper's subject is important for people to understand today.

A Chicago-style works cited page (only if you draw from sources outside of AY and Canvas).

To fulfill all of the above criteria, your answer will require at least 2-3 full pages (double spaced, 12-point font). Due to the accelerated nature of both this course and this assignment, your paper will not be graded on its level of polish, structure, or language. Rather, your grade will be based on the following criteria (each worth 25% of your score).

Thesis and Argument: Do you have a clear thesis statement? Does it present a defensible and reasonable argument?

Sources: Do you have the correct number/type of sources? Are they all quoted accurately?

Analysis: Do you pair each of the sources with your own original analysis? Do you have an accurate reading on who made each source, when it was made, and what it says?

Clarity: Does your submission make sense?