Puerto Rico Under American Rule Essay

For most of its history, Puerto Rico has been controlled by an outside power, and its people oppressed. While Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. territory, Spanish colonialism has had a significant impact on the island’s development and identity. The history of the island itself is proof of this fact, demonstrating each step Puerto Rico took to reach its current state. By examining the stages of Spanish control that Puerto Rico experienced, we can determine how each stage affected the structure and identity of Puerto Rico.

The ending of the Spanish-American War left the United States with a controversial question. Many debates rose throughout the U.S. about whether the Philippine Islands should be annexed or not. The Philippines fought along side with the United States against Spanish to gain their independence. The annexation of the Philippine Islands would be unjustified and an act of tyranny. The decision done by the U.S. to annex the Philippines would rise uncertainty between the two countries.

The attempted assassination of President Truman was an indication that Puerto Ricans would use any necessary means to gain independence. Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States for almost a century. The citizens of Puerto Rico have always had different views on whether they want independence or greater autonomy. The following essay will focus on the commonwealth status of Puerto Rico and the attempted assassination of President Truman.

Many politicians have different views on what Puerto Rico should do. Should the island become a State, stay a Commonwealth, or become independent. Either way, it would benefit the island.

Thus, if Puerto Rico does clearly agree upon the process of statehood, it is Congress’ obligation to deliberately consider and potentially aid Puerto Rico into statehood, even if it occupies a copious amount of time and effort.

What's a common location that comes up in discussion when someone thinks of a destination to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the Main land of the United States? Normally Puerto Rico isn't too far away from conversation. Puerto Rico is a beautiful place with the perfect climate and many historical sites to take that getaway that you have always wanted. Today we will discuss major issues in/of Puerto Rico, the significance of this research and data sources, and lastly I will describe the data collected and research found during my inquiry on the region known as Puerto Rico

The Spanish war gave the United States an empire. At the end of the Spanish war the United States took Spanish colonies such as Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and many other islands. The creation of the American Empire leads to the end of the Spanish Empire. The United States wanted to build up the countries so that markets would open up and purchase American goods and to improve the American economy.

Since the last part of the 19th Century, the official language of Puerto Rico has stirred debate. Until the early 1900’s United States authorities insisted that the official language should be English, at least for the instruction in schools. Their reasoning was to produce English speaking students that were enriched in American culture, in the same way that was conducted by schools in the United States. However, objection to this policy brought a change in a sense that Spanish overcame English as the official language in schools. Later, in 1991, the governor of Puerto Rico, Rafael Hernandez Colon, endorsed a bill that made Spanish the official speaking language of the

After the 1898 Spanish-American war and the treaty of Paris, the Island of Puerto Rico,; became an US territory. The treaty signed between Spain and the United States of America, established that the future of Puerto Rico would be decided by the US congress as the unique and last stance to define the status of the island. According to the treaty of Paris, Puerto Rico became a formal “colony” of the United States administered by the US army. However, the arrival of the Great War slightly changed the situation.

Latino culture, specifically Puerto-Rican culture has changed through the course of history. Puerto Rico has witnessed a fusion of races and cultures spanning over many years, starting in 1898, after the Spanish-American war. Ultimately, Puerto Rico was annexed to the United States, the Puerto Rican people made United States citizens with limited restrictions and granted commonwealth status. The changes made during those eras did not come without consequences to the Puerto Rican culture. In "Poisoned Story", author Rosario Ferre depicts the political and economic changing norms and tensions between the social classes of the Puerto Rican's culture. In Ferre's story "Poisoned Story" several major themes are prevalent through the story:

Since Puerto Rico was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and Spanish colonization ensued in 1508, Puerto Rico has experienced all of these pressures of identity and culture.

They use this clout to achieve their goals in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic was in severe debt with European nations at the time. The United States goal was to payback the Europeans using the Dominican’s custom-houses (Loomis 4). These custom-houses were important economically to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic received one hundred million dollars from the custom-houses since its independence (Loomis 2). The United States used its clout and convinced the President to give the United States the custom-houses receipts and the supervision of public expenditure (Loomis 4). Instead of using the money to benefit the poor people of the Dominican Republic. The United States used the customs to pay back the debt to the already powerful nations in Europe. These interests and goals fueled the United States actions in the Dominican Republic. The United States supported and protected the very unpopular President Morales who was engaged in arm conflicts with rebels. The United States supported Morales because to the United States considered Morales to be an intelligent, well-being and honest man (Loomis 3). Also, Morales fought the rebels who attacked the properties of American Citizens. Morales was the one who agree to give the United States control of the Custom houses so he could try to maintain peace in the interior of the country (Loomis 4).

When the United States invaded the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico (Guanica and Ponce), a majority of Puerto Ricans welcomed the Americans and enabled their invasion. They cooperated and aided the American expulsion of Spaniards. However, it is obvious by the consequences that the end result of U.S. invasion and rule was not what Puerto Ricans had welcomed in July of 1898. Puerto Ricans wished an end to autocratic rule and concentration of wealth, things they did not know would continue under American rule. The Americans were regarded as change and chance for progress, even though they retained the fear of not knowing U.S. intentions.

The politics of Puerto Rico takes place in the framework of a republican democratic form of government that is under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States as an organized unincorporated territory.

I would like to have the privilege of participating in this special initiative in Puerto Rico. I went to Puerto Rico recently in January for vacation with my best friends. I noticed that there were some islanders sitting on the sidewalk as we explored San Juan . I asked one woman if she was alright because I took note that she was there for the past two hours in the same spot. She told me, " I sit here and wait for tourist to past by and help me". She explained the storm took her home and now she has nothing. I gave her couple of dollars and my bottle of water. At that moment I realized I could not enjoy my vacation knowing there are unfortunate people around me who needed help. I wanted to help the people of Puerto Rico but knew