The American citizen identity is a dynamic idea without a clear definition. The naturalization process acts like a standard between non citizens and citizens. This paper attempts to see if the excluding characteristics found in the forms used in the naturalization process have an impact on the kinds of immigrants that are naturalized. The paper details the changes made to the naturalization forms from the early 1900s to current and the exclusions that are a result of those changes. The paper then compares those exclusions to data collected on the types of immigrants naturalized throughout 18th and 19th century. The paper concludes that the exclusions in the forms are reflected in the trends of the naturalizations, thus proving that the forms do impact the identity of the ideal American. Exclusions such as illiteracy, political allegiances and race are most clearly supported by the data. This study sheds light on how seemingly small parts of policy implementation-- such as the way questions are stated--can have a large impact on the naturalization rates and the formation of the American identity.
