Birthright citizens: a history of race and rights in antebellum America

Introduction : Rights of colored men: debating citizenship in antebellum America

Being a native, and free born: race and rights in Baltimore

Threats of removal: colonization, emigration, and the borders of belonging

Aboard the Constitution: black sailors and citizenship at sea

The city courthouse: everyday scenes of race and law

Between the Constitution and the discipline of the church: making congregants citizens

By virtue of unjust laws: black laws as the performance of rights

To sue and be sued: courthouse claims and the contours of citizenship

Confronting Dred Scott: seeing citizenship from Baltimore City

Conclusion : Rehearsals for Reconstruction: new citizens in a new era

Epilogue: monuments to men.