The basic steps of genealogy
Don't
Decide what you need to learn.
Pick one of a "person of interest" and try to identify needed information (document pertinent information on other relatives/historical figures as you find it).
Select records to search.
Obtain & search records
Use your information.
Access to individual census records is available from 1790-1940. There is a 72-year restriction on access to individual census records, so records from 1950 will become available in 2022.
Government documents, whether housed in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or available through free or subscription databases, can be valuable sources for genealogists. These resources might also be used by researchers exploring demographic trends or tracking down biographical details about individuals.