Hispanic Heritage: Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has overcome a lot since being claimed by Christopher Columbus for the Spanish in 1493. Upon being colonized by Spain, the island natives were forced into slavery, and many of them did not survive, as infectious diseases, including a smallpox outbreak in 1518 and 1519, passed on by their European colonizers wiped out much of the indigenous population.

Those who did survive were emancipated by King Charles I in 1520, though the tiny island country in the northeastern Caribbean would remain in Spanish possession for several centuries.

Granted powers of self-government from Spain in 1897, Puerto Rico would find that arrangement short lived, as the island was invaded by American troops in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. That invasion would force action from Spain, who ceded the island to the United States shortly after the invasion as part of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.

Puerto Rico has remained an unincorporated United States territory since 1898. But shortly after their island was ceded to the U.S., Puerto Rican natives were granted American citizenship under the Jones Act in 1917. Though Puerto Ricans cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, they have elected their own governor since 1948. In addition, the issue of statehood or independence remains a hot topic of debate on the island even today.

Little is known about Puerto Rico's ancient history, as the indigenous population left little archaeological or physical evidence of their societies. In fact, the first comprehensive history of Puerto Rico was not written until 1786, long after the Spanish had arrived and presided over the island.

What is known of Puerto Rican history is largely what has occurred over the last several centuries. Despite being a Spanish colony at the time, Puerto Rican citizens fought in the American Revolutionary War, helping secure victories against the British in the cities of Pensacola, Baton Rouge, St. Louis, and Mobile. The victory at Pensacola was especially impressive, as the Puerto Rican natives helped capture a city that was the capital of the British colony of West Florida.

Today, Puerto Rico's residents remain largely divided on the issue of statehood. Supporters who want Puerto Rico to become the 51st state and those who want to maintain the island's status as a commonwealth claim strength in numbers, while those who favor complete independence are significantly smaller in size.