I want to start with the Spanish American War. This was a short battle during the year of 1898. The U.S. invaded Puerto Rico while they were still under Spains control. This war lasted from April to December and around the middle of August was the time that the U.S. was able to secure the island. It wasn't until after the Treaty of Paris was signed that the war ended. The U.S. saw the island as a valuable resource. Not only would it help them present a strong naval presence in the Caribbean after using it as a coaling station for war ships, but the island also provided tropical agriculture.
After the treaty of Paris, The U.S. granted the people of Puerto Rico U.S. citizenship and tried to make the official language of the island english instead of Spanish. Eventually Nationalist movements developed by the democratic party and gained much support. By 1948 the people on the island were allowed to elect their own governor. Soon after in the year of 1952, U.S. congress approved of a constitution that made the island autonomous U.S. common wealth. This also allowed them to keep they're citizenship in the U.S.
The Jones act of 1917 was a federal law that regulated maritime commerce in the U.S. This required all goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on the ships that are built, owned and operated by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Some of the economic changes on the island included the high death rate. They soon gained new sanitation practices and medical knowledge. However, the great depression hit in the middle of it all. After the island had been hit with several hurricanes and they received fewer and fewer resources and less exports, the economy suffered.
Political changes included Puerto Rico being aided through President Franklin D. Roosevelts new deal policies. After the great depression the (PRRA) was formed to restore the economy. Soon the it changed from a mercantilist system under Spain to a capitalist system under the U.S. Eventually the sugar and tobacco industries began to grow. Lots of Americans invested in those industries which improved the economy on the island but there was still no social change. Things like poverty, illiteracy, and disease left people with low-income to migrate to the U.S. during the 1930s and unemployment rates were up to 65%.
During 1900-1930, Americans continued to try to change the people and the culture there but they refused. Because of their refusal to modernize themselves and conform, Americans proceeded to make it seem as if they were incapable of independence. their general culture made them look exotic through American eyes.
However, after some time, eventually men on the island were allowed to join the military and they received non-voting representation in the U.S. congress.
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