In addition, it's significant that more Puerto Ricans are residents of the mainland U.S. (five million) than of the island (3.5 million), and the former have the right to vote in presidential elections. In 1948, Congress passed an act permitting Puerto Ricans to elect their own governor. Puerto Rico has been discussed as a potential 51st state of the United States. Today, more than 5 million people of Puerto Rican descent live in the United States, with huge communities centered in Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and especially New York City. In order to produce cash crops such as sugar cane, ginger, tobacco and coffee, the Spanish began importing more slaves from Africa in the 16th century. This m… In June 2018, in the aftermath of the devastation and economic crisis linked to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rican resident commissioner Jenniffer González Colón introduced a bill to make the island a state by January 2021. By the mid-19th ...read more, The first native New Yorkers were the Lenape, an Algonquin people who hunted, fished and farmed in the area between the Delaware and Hudson rivers. Why Puerto Rico Matters in the US Presidential Election. Doug Mack, The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Other Far-Flung Outposts of the USA. One of this election season's weirdest rallying cries/scare tactics is about how Democrats will quickly move to grant statehood to Puerto Rico in 2021. In the 2012 elections, Puerto Rico held a referendum where they were given the choice to keep their current status, become independent, or become a state. Help us get the attention of Congress so Puerto Rico can be admitted as a state: Since 1952, Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth of the U.S., which is similar to statehood. This sounds strange to modern ears, but nations in Europe fought wars over land throughout the period during which Spain owned Puerto Rico (and before and after), changing the borders of Europe over and over. In a referendum held in 2017, citizens of the island voted to petition the U.S. government for official statehood, but it's unclear whether Congress or the president will grant it. The relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico has long been contentious, ever since the Spanish-American War in 1898. Ricardo ARDUENGO / Getty Images . Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898. Most Puerto Ricans who have moved to the US mainland have historically backed Democrats. Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. As previously mentioned, a high percentage of Puerto Ricans are living below the poverty level, but this would not be the case if their country’s statehood goes into effect. But for Puerto Rico to become a state, the U.S. Congress must approve its request for statehood, and to date, Congress has not been willing to do so. Here’s what would happen to US politics if Puerto Rico became a state. These two stipulations that would disappear if Puerto Rico became a state. 'Free Associated State of Puerto Rico') is an unincorporated territory of the United States.It is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. It offers more opportunities for Puerto Ricans. While she is allowed to introduce legislation to Congress and take part in debates, she is not allowed to vote on it. If Puerto Rico became a state, an extra $20 billion in federal funds could help the with the country’s 13 percent unemployment rate, according to The Washington Post. This week’s vote on Puerto Rico’s status, in which the largest share of votes supported statehood, got a lot of people wondering whether the island territory may become the 51st state. What Is the Difference Between a Commonwealth and a State? Puerto Rico statehood referendum draws big support—but small turnout, CNN. Europeans began to explore the region at the beginning of the 16th century–among the first was Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian ...read more, The Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez dedicated his life’s work to what he called la causa (the cause): the struggle of farm workers in the United States to improve their working and living conditions through organizing and negotiating contracts ...read more, One of the original 13 colonies and one of the six New England states, Massachusetts (officially called a commonwealth) is known for being the landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. But within only a few years, the U.S. would throw all that asunder, paving the way ...read more, Sometimes laws are passed with the stated goal of improving the whole of the United States, when really they’re just aimed at addressing one tiny issue. Puerto Rico has overwhelmingly voted to become the 51st state of the United States, in a referendum which promised enormous change, yet in reality is likely to make little difference. Bodenheimer, Rebecca. The current situation is holding Puerto Ricans back. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. Furthermore, only 23% of eligible voters turned out in 2017, which cast doubt on the validity of the referendum and made it unlikely that Congress would approve a request for statehood. https://www.thoughtco.com/when-did-puerto-rico-become-a-us-territory-4691832 (accessed February 28, 2021). Maine in … Rebecca Bodenheimer, Ph.D. is the author of "Geographies of Cubanidad: Place, Race, and Musical Performance in Contemporary Cuba." The ...read more, Wall Street runs for a short eight blocks in lower Manhattan and is headquarters of America’s financial markets. Puerto Rico is currently a US territory. Given that Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state, islanders do not have a say in the Presidential election. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! PHOTO GALLERY. The 2012 referendum was the first in which statehood won the majority of popular votes, 61%, and the 2017 referendum followed suit. A man looks at hundreds of shoes displayed in memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria in front of the Puerto Rican Capitol, in San Juan on June 1, 2018. English explorer and colonist John Smith named the state for the Massachuset tribe. A man rides his bicycle in front of a wall covered with campaign posters promoting Puerto Rico's statehood in San Juan, on June 9, 2017. Four years later, Puerto Rico would officially become a U.S. commonwealth, which enabled the island to create its own constitution and granted other powers of self-government. Definition and List of Countries, The U.S. Government's Role in Sterilizing Women of Color. But there’s been a movement for quite some time for Puerto Rico to become a state… similar to how there’s a statehood movement for Washington DC. Hurricanes Maria and Irma, which devastated the island in 2017—Maria caused a total, island-wide blackout and the deaths of thousands of Puerto Ricans—only accelerated the increase in Puerto Rican migration to the mainland U.S. The biggest issue is the fact that Puerto Ricans (and citizens of other U.S. territories) are not allowed to vote in presidential elections due to provisions outlined in the Electoral College. The process for Congress to approve a petition for statehood involves a simple majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. https://www.thoughtco.com/when-did-puerto-rico-become-a-us-territory-4691832 Journalist Makini Brice reported that the measure passed “by a vote of 232-180, with no Republicans supporting it.” Republican opposition to statehood is predictable. Smallpox soon wiped out the vast majority of the Taíno, with many others enslaved by the Spanish to mine silver and gold and to construct settlements. Puerto Rico Statehood Process In 1950, the U.S. Congress authorized Puerto Rico to draft a local constitution. Puerto Rico’s native Taíno population—whose hunter-gatherer ancestors settled the island more than 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived—called it Borinquén, and referred to themselves as boricua (a term that is still used today). Under the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the war later that year, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines and Cuba to the United States. It has been portrayed ...read more, The largest of the U.S. states east of the Mississippi River and the youngest of the 13 former English colonies, Georgia was founded in 1732, at which time its boundaries were even larger—including much of the present-day states of Alabama and Mississippi. granted U.S. citizenship to all Puerto Ricans, History, Art & Archives: U.S. House of Representatives. Despite widespread misconceptions, Puerto Ricans are American citizens. Between 1950 and 1970, more than 500,000 people (some 25 percent of the island’s total population) left Puerto Rico, an exodus known as La Gran Migración (the Great Migration). It helps the US greatly in terms of economics. United States Congress still has ultimate control over Puerto Rico. By Andrew Leonatti on October 06, 2020 12:25 PM. "When Did Puerto Rico Become a US Territory?" In 1508, Juan Ponce de León founded the first European settlement, Caparra, near a bay on the island’s northern coast; Caparra was renamed Puerto Rico (or “rich port”) in 1521. Hundreds of thousands of voters left the second part of the referendum blank, however, leaving the question open for further debate. In 1508, Juan Ponce de León f… After centuries of Spanish colonial rule, they had just become an independent part of Spain, complete with a Constitution and voting rights. According to the terms of the treaty to end the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the U.S., along with the Philippines and Guam. Opponents of statehood often argue that Puerto Rico should not become a state because it is relatively poor compared to U.S. states. However, these referenda were non-binding and no further action was taken. This was the sixth referendum held on the status of Puerto Rico, with the previous one having taken place in 2017. If Puerto Rico becomes a state, it could shake up the political dynamics in Congress. The Insular Cases: History and Significance, What Is Latin America? Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territorial possession of the United States acquired in 1898 following the Spanish–American War, making it the world's oldest colony. However, since 1898, five other territories were annexed in the time Puerto Rico has been a colonial possession. The real question is how long residents will suffer under the current territorial model. In 1868, some 600 people attempted an uprising based in the mountain town of Lares. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, but the island’s ambiguous status in relation to the United States has driven heated debate over the years between those who support its commonwealth status, those who favor full-fledged Puerto Rican statehood and those who want the island to be its own independent nation. Two years later, under legislation passed by Congress to help Puerto Rico deal with its economic crisis, the commonwealth declared a form of bankruptcy, claiming debt of more than $70 billion, mostly to U.S. investors. Her work has been published by CNN Opinion, Pacific Standard, Poynter, NPR, and more. By the mid-19th century, however, a wave of independence movements in Spain’s South American colonies had reached Puerto Rico. If Puerto Rico is admitted, they would be awarded two senators and five representatives in Congress. It’s the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles chain, which also includes Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola (divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It's a U.S. commonwealth Puerto Rico first became a U.S. territory following the Spanish-American War, which was ignited by the explosion of the U.S.S. Puerto Rico officially became a U.S. Commonwealth in 1952, although remained a territory of the United States. Puerto Rico became a territory, as did Guam, and in 1917, the people of Puerto Rico were granted U.S. citizenship as residents of an unincorporated territory of the United States. 2. As citizens of a commonwealth, Puerto Ricans can elect a non-voting representative in Congress and vote in presidential primaries, but cannot vote for president because Puerto Rico is not part of the electoral college. Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico - The commonwealth: In addition to reforming the Puerto Rican economy, the PPD modified the island’s political relationship with the United States. When Did Puerto Rico Become a US Territory? After enjoying a brief independence from Spain, Puerto Rico was invaded by the US in 1898 as part of the Spanish-American War and became a US territory in the same year. Bodenheimer, Rebecca. By Ryan Struyk, CNN Updated 10:51 AM EDT, Sat October 14, 2017 puerto rico … © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/puerto-rico-history. The petition then goes to the president's desk. The United States first colonized Puerto Rico in 1898. Before the United States annexed Puerto Rico in 1898, statehood was a matter of when, not if: Every territory acquired by the United States would eventually become a state. Here are three reasons why Puerto Rico should become the 51 st U.S. state and three reasons why it shouldn’t. So Congress couldn’t make Northern Colorado into an independent State without permission from Colorado’s legislature.If Congress wanted to make a new state of Jefferson out of Southern Oregon and Northern California, and both Oregon and California agreed, Congress could create that state. Congress also has power over the Puerto Rican legislature. (2020, August 28). In 1917, with the passage of the Jones-Shafroth Act by Congress and President Woodrow Wilson, Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship by birth. Puerto Rico, like the other U.S. territories with large populations of U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico will become a state. Over time, people began referring to the entire island by that name, while the port city itself became San Juan. The Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, officially ended the four-month Spanish-American War that guaranteed Cuba's independence and forced Spain to cede Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S. From that point on, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory. In the first decade of the 21st century, Puerto Rico’s economic growth slowed, even as its national debt rapidly expanded. But don’t hold your breath -- it isn’t likely to happen. Are Puerto Ricans Immigrants in the U.S.? Since that time five referenda (in 1967, 1993, 1998, 2012, and 2017) have been held to allow Puerto Ricans to vote on the island's status, with the most popular options being to continue as a commonwealth, to request U.S. statehood, or to declare full independence from the U.S. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/when-did-puerto-rico-become-a-us-territory-4691832. In 1952, Congress granted Puerto Rico commonwealth status, which allowed the island to elect its own governor. But, of those who did, more than 97 percent voted in favor of becoming a state. After three separate votes in 1967, 1993 and 1998 reaffirmed Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status, a majority of residents who voted in a 2012 referendum said they were not satisfied with the status quo, and indicated their preferred choice was statehood. The bill was passed on to the House Committee on Natural Resources. On several occasions, citizens of the island have voted on the issue of whether to remain a commonwealth, to petition for official statehood, or to become an independent nation. As Puerto Rico Votes To Become The 51st State, Here’s What Happens Next By Justin Lessner November 9, 2020 at 12:57 pm. Nonetheless, a July 2019 poll indicated that two-thirds of Americans were in favor of granting statehood to Puerto Rico. In 2019, H.R.1965 – Puerto Rico Admission Act, 5% of the lower legislature were in support. Big political, economic and social changes swept Puerto Rico after World War II. According to records, Puerto Rico is costing the US over USD22 billion a year, but as a state, it can contribute nearly USD2 billion to the US Treasury every year.3. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico's non-voting representative in Congress is introducing a bill that seeks to make the U.S. territory a state by 2021. And this is where Puerto Rico's petition for statehood may stall: advocates face an uphill battle while Republicans control the Senate and Donald Trump is president as Trump has openly declared his opposition. On an election night in Puerto Rico full of cliffhangers and razor thin margins, one vote seemed a bit more clear: a majority in the U.S. territory wants the island to be a full-fledged state. In July 1898, during the brief Spanish-American War, U.S. Army forces occupied Puerto Rico at Guánica, on the island’s south side. Also, statehood would bring parity with the other 50 states regarding economic aid. It has a population of some 3.4 million people and a vibrant culture shaped by a mix of Spanish, United States and Afro-Caribbean influences. In Maria’s aftermath, Puerto Rico’s inhabitants—some 3.4 million American citizens—found themselves in a humanitarian crisis, facing debilitating shortages of water, food and fuel and a deeply uncertain future. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Since 1952, Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth of the U.S., a status that enables the island to elect its own governor. Competing options for the future political status of Puerto Rico include maintaining its … Bodenheimer, Rebecca. During his second expedition to the Indies in 1493, Christopher Columbus returned several Taíno captives to Borinquén and claimed the island for Spain, calling it San Juan Bautista. Also, the country’s residents do not have to pay federal taxes and companies do not have to pay business taxes. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In September 2017, Puerto Rico’s economic woes were compounded when Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 hurricane with some 150 mph winds, made direct landfall on the island. Many believe the Jones Act was passed in response to World War I and the need for more troops; opponents argued that the government was only granting Puerto Ricans citizenship in order to be able to draft them. At the end, the new constitution did not change its official status as a territory of the United States. In February 1898, Puerto Ricans had a lot to celebrate. Puerto Rico’s native Taíno population—whose hunter-gatherer ancestors settled the island more than 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived—called it Borinquén, and referred to themselves as boricua (a term that is still used today).During his second expedition to the Indies in 1493, Christopher Columbus returned several Taíno captives to Borinquén and claimed the island for Spain, calling it San Juan Bautista. Puerto Ricans would live better, on their own turf, a win-win for all. As of 2019, the population of Puerto Rico is 3.2 million, around half the average state population and higher than that of 20 U.S. states. Puerto Rico is a large Caribbean island of roughly 3,500 square miles located in the West Indies. Three Reasons Puerto Rico Should Become the 51st State . In 1917, Congress passed the Jones-Shafroth Act, which granted U.S. citizenship to all Puerto Ricans and made Puerto Rican males eligible for the military draft; some 18,000 of the territory’s residents were subsequently drafted into World War I. Since then, the Caribbean island has been in a strange limbo position between a ‘U.S. Puerto Rico (Spanish for 'Rich Port'; abbreviated PR, Taino: Boriken, Borinquen), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit. Just like DC, Puerto Rico tends to skew quite liberal politically. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/when-did-puerto-rico-become-a-us-territory-4691832. Puerto Rico, History, Art & Archives: U.S. House of Representatives.Smithsonian.Library of Congress. In fact, many Puerto Ricans served in WWI and other 20th century wars. However, Puerto Ricans can make a difference in presidential elections because they are allowed to participate in the Democratic and Republican primaries by sending delegates to the nominating conventions. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory as a result of the Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898. In 2015, the worsening economic crisis led its governor to announce that the commonwealth could no longer meet its debt obligations. "When Did Puerto Rico Become a US Territory?" Such is the case with the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which received renewed scrutiny in September 2017 after Hurricane Maria ...read more, The American Hispanic/Latinx history is a rich, diverse and long one, with immigrants, refugees and Spanish-speaking or indigenous people living in the United States since long before the nation was established. A referendum of the status of Puerto Rico was held on November 3, 2020, concurrently with the general election.The Referendum was announced by Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced on May 16, 2020. The rest of the sentence explains that Congress can’t make a new State within a State without permission from the State or States in question. W.W. Norton, 2017. The statehood movement in Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estadidad de Puerto Rico) aims to make Puerto Rico a state of the United States. This act also established a bicameral legislature in Puerto Rico, but laws passed can be vetoed by either the governor of Puerto Rico or the U.S. president. Puerto Rico to my belief will never be a state because if Puerto Rico would become state then all the Puerto Ricans that are on the mainland would move back to that beautiful Island Paradise !!! All the talking heads discuss Puerto Rican statehood as an either/or proposition. And, bringing with them traditions and culture from Mexico, Spain, ...read more, Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities. While Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they don't enjoy all the rights of mainland American citizens. Even as Puerto Rico attracted an influx of big American companies, and became a center for manufacturing and tourism, the decline of its agricultural industries led many islanders to seek employment opportunities in the United States. But Wall Street is far more than a location—it has been adopted as a term to describe all U.S. financial institutions and U.S. economic power. A fifth referendum in 2017 ended in a majority vote for statehood, but only 23 percent of voters (a historic low) turned out. So the blue party in the US is very much in favor of Puerto Rico and DC becoming states. 5 Reasons Why Puerto Rico Probably Won't Become The 51st State. In 1952, the island's governor at the time, Luis Muñoz Marín, proclaimed the establishment of the … The United States took control of Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898 — and its status has been debated ever since. Puerto Rican flag. Territory’ … They also spent considerable resources turning San Juan into an impregnable military outpost, building a fortified palace for the governor (La Fortaleza) as well as two massive forts—San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobál—that would withstand repeated attacks by rival powers such as England, the Netherlands and France. All Rights Reserved. In June, the U.S. House advanced legislation to grant Puerto Rico statehood. Having enjoyed considerable autonomy in the latter years of Spanish colonial rule, many Puerto Ricans bristled under the control exercised by the United States. The interim U.S. military government established on the island ended in 1900 after Congress passed the Foraker Act, which formally instituted a civil government in Puerto Rico. Image credit: Creative Photo Corner/Shutterstock. In October 1950 President Truman signed the Puerto Rico Commonwealth Bill, which enabled the island’s people to establish their own constitution. By that time, the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments had jointly launched an ambitious industrialization effort called Operation Bootstrap. As CNN reported, only 23 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast a ballot. Though the Spanish military efficiently quashed the rebellion, Puerto Ricans still celebrate “El Grito de Lares” (The Cry of Lares) as a moment of great national pride. This also marked the end of 400 years of Spanish colonialism and the rise of U.S. imperialism and dominance in the Americas. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898, as a result of the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the Spanish-American War and dictated that Spain cede the island to the U.S. Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship by birth in 1917, but were not given the right to vote in U.S. presidential elections unless they were residents of the mainland. Under Spanish colonial rule, Puerto Rico experienced varying levels of economic and political autonomy over the centuries. Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez said … ...read more. After centuries of Spanish rule, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in 1898 and has been largely self-governing since the mid-20th century. The Capital of Puerto Rico Celebrates Its Long and Vibrant History, Treaty of Paris 1898: The End of the Spanish-American War, Mexican-American War: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, due to provisions outlined in the Electoral College, Ph.D., Ethnomusicology, University of California Berkeley, M.A., Ethnomusicology, University of California Berkeley.
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