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The Birthright Law

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The definition of citizenship has changed many times over the years. To Americans it seems quite simple, but to others it’s not. If you were born in the United States or if you went through naturalization, you were a citizen of the country. For centuries they had debates on the rule that if a child is born in the U.S. they are a citizen even if their parents were documented or not. During the Civil War, they denied slaves or former slaves having the rights to be a citizen even in a free territory. They avoided this question for a long time. Native Americans, slaves, and former slaves were not defined as citizens. The birthright law started way back in 1608 in England and was passed on to the U.S.. If you were born under the English king’s

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