In 1795 the two sstep process for Nationalization was established. This act required that any free, white male alien (of at least 21 yrs of age) had to reside within this country for at least three years before he declared his intention to become a citizen. Two years later he could petition the court for naturalization. Unmarried women at least 21 years old (basically for purchasing and selling property) could also apply for citizenship. The Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 granted U.S. citizenship to all persons born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction (American Indian, inhabitants of unincorporated territories, and children of foreign ambassadors were excluded in this amendment). In Georgia there are two documents associated with the naturalization process, "Declaration of Intention" and Petition for Naturalization". There are two steps involved in becoming a naturalized citizen. The alien initially filed a Declaration of Intention (first papers) to become a citizen in an appropriate court of record. After residency and proof of good character requirements were met, the alien could then petition the court to become a naturalized citizen. Prior to Sept. 1906 this process could be accomplished in any court of record. After then by federal law, this was transferred to the Federal Court System. The federal courts did allow some state courts to participate in the process in a few instances. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ source: Index to Georgia's Federal Naturalization Records to 1950 (Excluding Military Petitions) compiled by Linda W.Geiger & Meyer Frankel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeanette