Defining citizenship is a problem that has been faced by many countries. To this day, laws and articles regarding the subject are perpetually amended. From the founding of the Polish Republic in November 1918 through modern times, Poland's borders have significantly shifted, affecting the people residing not only within its borders but also those incorporated or expelled from their new territories. My research focuses on how the citizenship laws passed in 1920, 1951, 1962, and 2009 changed the definition of a Polish national. Although we have access to maps, treaties, and statistics regarding the expulsions and changes of frontiers in Eastern Europe, this paper focuses on the reasons behind the changes, and how those, in turn, affected the citizenships of hundreds of thousands of people. Particularly, I have been interested in how the changes in borders, regimes, and forms of government altered conceptions of citizenship and laws. The new laws created were a direct result of drastic political and diplomatic obstacles. They were commissioned and written by a small group of people who had little regard for the changes they were bringing to the lives of civilians living within those territories. Poland is not the only country that has gone through many border changes in the last century; this research could lead to the discovery of concepts, themes, and patterns that can be applied to the study of citizenship of a different country.

Dr. Ruff was the first faculty member Julia had met before enrolling at SLU; he became her major mentor at the beginning of her freshman year. Through a year-long independent study this year, he has assisted her with receiving the Knoedler Research Fund, and he has inspired her to continue her studies in European History in the future. Julia is very grateful for all of the classes she was able to take with Dr. Ruff during her undergraduate years. Most of all, she is very thankful for the significant impact he has had on her research and undergraduate journey.