Trump v. Barbara · ¶19
The story of citizenship in the United States begins with the English common law. Before the Revolution, the American colonists—like all in the British Empire—were considered subjects of the sovereign. See Inglis v. Trustees of Sailor’s Snug Harbour in City of New York, 3 Pet. 99, 120– 121 (1830). That arose not from royal fiat, but from what the common law conceived as the relationship between the sovereign and the people. The King, Blackstone explained, owes those “born within the dominions” a duty of “protection.” 1 W. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 354 (1765) (Blackstone); see also id., at 358. And “in return for that protection,” those “born within the dominions” owe the King a “duty” of “allegiance” (sometimes rendered “ligeance”). Id., at 354, 356. Children born with that allegiance were “natural-born subject[s].” Doe v. Jones, 4 T. R. 300, 308, 100 Eng. Rep.…Read in context ›
slip opinion, revised 7/01/26
Source edition
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.