Final answer:
Indigenous peoples in the U.S. were collectively granted citizenship in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act, with remaining individuals receiving citizenship by the Nationality Act of 1940. This grant came after a long history of denial of rights and after citizenship rights were extended to other groups. Native American rights and sovereignty issues remain relevant to their ongoing struggle for justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
All Native Americans born in the U.S. became citizens in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act. However, those born before this act who were not already citizens due to other legislation such as the Dawes Act or military service, were granted citizenship by the Nationality Act of 1940. The path to citizenship for Native Americans was complex and came much later than citizenship rights for other marginalized groups such as African Americans granted by the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 and White women, who were considered citizens from the founding of the United States.
Native American rights experienced significant changes over time, with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 allowing for self-governance, and subsequent civil rights acts designed to protect their legal rights. Despite being granted citizenship, Native Americans often faced challenges in exercising their rights, with many states denying their right to vote under various pretexts up until 1957. The ongoing struggle for honoring treaties and maintaining sovereignty over tribal lands continues to be a critical issue for Indigenous populations.