AMERICANIZATION OF PUERTO RICO

Americanization of Puerto Rico

Americanization of Puerto Rico

The acquisition of Puerto Rico resulted from one of the more shameful acts in American history and one that is significant today when considering the history of Hispanics and social welfare. The continued possession of Puerto Rico is a throwback to a colonial era that should have been abandoned long ago as Puerto Rico's status as a “commonwealth” of the United States is one that has robbed Puerto Ricans of their dignity and honor.

Puerto Rico, impoverished and poor, became an American possession as compensation for expenses that the United States incurred fighting its war with Spain. This began a campaign of Americanization that decimated a 400-year-old Spanish culture but did not succeed in turning Puerto Ricans into English-speaking Americans (Morris, 2005). As part of the Spanish Empire, Puerto Rico had voting representation in both chambers of the Spanish Parliament, whereas the United States denied Puerto Rico statehood, independence, or meaningful political participation in the federal government, although Puerto Rico does have a nonvoting delegate in Congress. United States federal laws apply to Puerto Rico and they are enforced by federal agencies, yet Puerto Ricans have no say in the making of these laws.

The “granting” of U.S. citizenship to all Puerto Ricans through the Jones Act of 1917 eliminated legal barriers to migration, as Puerto Ricans were now free to travel and settle anywhere in the United States or its possessions. As is true of most immigrant populations, Puerto Ricans left the island for the mainland to seek employment, not to take advantage of federal programs. The rate of migration fluctuated with the economic conditions of the island and the availability of economic opportunity on the mainland (Morris, 2005).

Although they are U.S. citizens, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in national elections ...