American refers to a nationality, or anyone with American citizenship. Why have people here argued that only whites are true Americans. Can you defend this claim with legal evidence? Yes, it's called the Naturalization Act of 1790, and it tells you who is qualified for American citizenship, FREE WHITE MEN OF GOOD MORAL STANDING, no exceptions.    The original  United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790  (1  Stat.   103 ) provided the first rules to be followed by the  United States  in the granting of national  citizenship . This law limited naturalization to aliens who were  free white persons  and thus left out  indentured servants ,  slaves , free African-Americans, and later Asian Americans.  The 1790 Act also limited naturalization to persons of good moral character; the law required a set period of residence in the United States prior to naturalization, specifically two years in the country and one year in the state of residence when applying for citizenship.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalization_Act_of_1790     And I will leave you with a quote from Abraham Lincoln the man who freed the slaves!     I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.   -- September 18, 1858 - Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston, Illinois   http://www.topicsites.com/abraham-lincoln/quotes.htm