Titles of Nobility Amendment facts for kids

The Titles of Nobility Amendment is a proposed change to the U.S. Constitution. It was suggested by the U.S. Congress way back in 1810. This amendment would take away citizenship from any American who accepts a special title, like "Duke" or "Baron," from a foreign country.

This amendment was almost added to the Constitution a few times. It only needed two more states to agree to it between 1812 and 1816. Congress never set a deadline for states to approve it. This means the amendment is still waiting for approval today. However, many more states would need to agree to it now.

What the Amendment Says

The Original Wording Explained Simply

The amendment's full text might seem a bit old-fashioned. Here is what it says in simpler words:

If any American citizen accepts a title of nobility or honor, or accepts any gift, money, job, or payment from a foreign ruler or country without Congress's permission, that person will stop being a U.S. citizen. They will also not be allowed to hold any job or position of power in the U.S. government.

This means if you were an American citizen and accepted a title like "Lord" or "Lady" from another country, you would lose your U.S. citizenship. You also couldn't work for the U.S. government.

Why Was This Amendment Proposed?

Protecting American Values from Foreign Influence

The U.S. Constitution already says that the American government cannot give out titles of nobility. It also stops states from doing this. This proposed amendment would make that idea even stronger. It would prevent Americans from getting such titles from other countries. The goal was to keep America a country where everyone is equal, without special titles like those found in monarchies.

A Story About Napoleon's Family

There's a popular idea about why Congress proposed this amendment. It might have been because of a marriage in 1803. Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French leader, had a younger brother named Jérôme Bonaparte. Jérôme married an American woman named Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte from Baltimore, Maryland.

The "Duchess of Baltimore"

Betsy Patterson, as she was known, gave birth to a son in 1805. Even though her marriage was later canceled, some people thought she wanted a fancy title for herself or her son from France. She was even called the "Duchess of Baltimore" by some.

Congress members were worried about Americans getting special titles from other countries. One Congressman, Nathaniel Macon, said that voting on this amendment was about whether America would have people with foreign honors, like France's "Legion of Honor." This shows how much they wanted to keep America free from foreign noble titles.