June 2, 1924: The Indian Citizenship Act

June 2, 1924: President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act, guaranteeing all the rights of American citizenship to Native Americans born on U.S. soil.

It shouldn't even have been a question. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1868, specifically states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." But the part about being "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" put it into question. This language was generally taken to mean members of various tribes that were treated as separate sovereignties: They were citizens of their tribal nations.

The act was proposed by U.S. Representative Homer P. Snyder, Republican of New York, arguing that Native Americans had served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I, and should be eligible for not just all the rights and privileges of U.S. citizens, but specifically for veterans' benefits. Under this Act, Indigenous people did not have to apply for citizenship, nor did they have to give up their tribal citizenship to become U.S. citizens.

Some tribes opposed the bill. The Onondaga Nation of New York State believed acceptance of this act was "treason," because the United States Senate was forcing citizenship on all Indians without their consent.

Nevertheless, the House of Representatives passed it on March 18, 1924, the Senate passed it on May 15, in both cases on a voice vote rather than a roll call, and signed into law by Coolidge on June 2.

In 1927, on the same South Dakota vacation on which he declared, "I do not choose to run for President in 1928," the Lakota Nation presented Coolidge with a war bonnet, sometimes called a headdress. He accepted the gift, but he didn't look comfortable in it. Then again, he didn't look comfortable in anything. Alice Roosevelt Longworth, wife of the Speaker of the House and daughter of a President, once said that Coolidge "looks like he was weaned on a pickle." (As it turned out, Coolidge enjoyed pickles.)

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June 2, 1924 was a Monday. There were 3 games played that day in what would later be called Major League Baseball:

* The New York Giants beat the Boston Braves, 9-6 at the Polo Grounds. Wilfred "Rosy" Ryan was the winning pitcher, and went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his own cause. George "High Pockets" Kelly went 3-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBIs. Travis Jackson went 3-for-5. Frank Snyder went 3-for-3 with a walk and 4 RBIs. Ross Youngs went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. But Frankie Frisch went 0-for-5. Ryan and Snyder were the only ones of these who did not make the Baseball Hall of Fame.

* The Washington Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 8-3 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Walter Johnson went the distance for his 360th career win.

* And the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-2 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Max Carey, better known as one of the best baserunners of the era, hit a home run.