Puerto Rico's History
Puerto Rico is an island nation located on the Caribbean Ocean that as of 2016 was home to approximately 3.4 million citizens (GALE). The island nation initially belonged to native Indian tribes such as the Taino, who were then colonized by the Spanish who then later ceded control of the island to the Americans after the Spanish-American war in 1898 (Hartwell). After initially colonizing the island, America would later recognize the island`s natives as citizens of the United States through the Jones-Shafroth Act in 1917 (GALE). Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States in 1952 which means it is still a territory of the United States, however, limited political participation of Puerto Ricans may strain the relationship of the two countries as they remain separate entities.
Early Relationship with the U.S.
The relationship between the U.S and Puerto Rico began during the Spanish-American war when the Americans were seen by the Puerto Ricans as their liberators. During the war, the relationship between the island`s natives and the U.S. was mainly positive since in the U.S. had initially offered to give them their independence (Timothy " Jeneen). As a result, the Puerto Ricans allied themselves with America in its fight against Spain over control of the island. However, this cooperation would not last since after Spain was defeated, the U.S. began to treat the island as one of its colonies.
Agriculture and Economic Challenges
After the Spanish-American war, the U.S. continued with the plantation style agriculture that had been initiated by the Spanish. The main crop that was grown was sugarcane with the American government offering tax incentives to individuals that wanted to invest in the island; especially its agricultural sector (Timothy " Jeneen). However, the islands economy did not grow as expected and this led to large scale migration to the mainland which currently has more Puerto Ricans than the island.
Autonomous Governance
Initially, Puerto Rico could not govern itself, which would later change in 1950 when the island nation was allowed to draft a constitution; the drafting of the constitution would take two years with the adoption happening in 1952 (GALE). A constitution meant that the island nation was conferred the status of an autonomous and self-governing commonwealth through its elected governor, senate, and house of representatives (Hartwell). This system of governance is similar to the control that mainland states have over their own internal affairs such as: coming up with and enforcing laws, creating a budget, managing the education system, and granting licenses.
Limitations of Commonwealth Status
Just like in the other mainland states, the island nation cannot: have its own head of state, conduct foreign relations, have a separate currency, control immigration, control trade, and possess its own military (GALE). Under the system, Puerto Rican citizens have similar rights and responsibilities as other U.S. citizens in the mainland states however, there are a few things that Puerto Ricans cannot do even though they are considered citizens.
Political Status and Debates
One of this is the exclusion from participating in the national elections as they are only allowed to vote in the primary elections. This voting exclusion is also extended to the political representation that the island has in congress whereby, they can only elect a resident commissioner to the U.S. congress. The resident commissioner is barred from participating in voting of any kind as they are there to represent the interest of the residents of Puerto Rico only.
The political status of Puerto Rico is what threatens the close ties that it shares with the U.S. since it is a highly debated topic whether the island nation should cut ties with America and become a full-fledged state or petition the U.S. into recognizing it as one of its states. Various referendums have been done in Puerto Rico over the question of statehood; in 1967, 1993, 1998, 2012, and 2017 (GALE). In all of those referendums except in 2017 the residents preferred the island nation retaining its status as a commonwealth mainly due to the benefits that come with American citizenship such as freedom of movement to and within the U.S.
Economic Challenges and Federal Intervention
The main reason the island nation`s residents voted against its commonwealth status in favor of attaining independence in 2017 is due to the negative effect that commonwealth status had on the economy. The status is thought to have promoted the mismanagement of the country`s finances by the administration through overspending which led to the country being declared bankrupt in 2017 having failed to settle it’s $74 billion debt with investors (GALE). This debt crisis eventually led to the intervention by the U.S congress which passed the "Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act" which saw the island nation`s budget and falling under the federal government (GALE).
Conclusion
The United States and the island nation of Puerto Rico have a complex relationship that has largely been cordial since the latter’s residents enjoy citizenship of the former. The commonwealth status has also proved beneficial to Puerto Rico in aid and rebuilding efforts when natural disasters mainly hurricanes such as Maria devastate the infrastructure of the island. The federal government has extended the same benefits that are available to mainland states and their residents such as freedom of movement within the borders of the U.S. However, the denial of political participation threatens the cordial relations of the two countries.
Works Cited
Hartwell, j, Moore. "Puerto Ricans." Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, vol. 2, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 426-429. U.S. History in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX2831200308/UHIC?u=beth65358"xid=a95fde4e. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
Timothy L. Gall " Jeneen Hobby. "Puerto Ricans." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life, 2nd ed., vol. 2: Americas, Gale, 2009, pp. 458-462. Student Resources in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1839300211/SUIC?u=fres89581"xid=4863cdce. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
GALE,. "US-Puerto Rico Relations." Opposing Views In Context. N.p., 2018. Web. .
