Gradations of Citizenship and Racial Eligibility in The U.S. Empire, 1848–1986

Today, nearly four million people live in U.S. territories. While they live under the U.S. flag and hold U.S. passports, they cannot vote in federal elections. Despite promises of equal citizenship under the 14th Amendment and international law that enshrined self-determination and complete sovereign independence as fundamental human rights, U.S. territories continue to exist as exceptions. As the norms of international law, the U.S. Constitution, and guarantees of citizenship have increasingly come under attack in the United States, it is instructive to consider how the country enacted a long-standing system of unequal forms of citizenship and colonial rule. Sociologist Katrina Quisumbing King will examine how ideas of racial difference shaped civic inclusion—and exclusion—in the United States’ territories. She will conduct archival data analysis for her study.