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Melinda C. Staley
Dr. D. Witherspoon
English 101-18
29 September 2014
Effects of Colonization in Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rican culture known today is not the original culture of the island, mainly
because of influences of other countries and peoples. The wave of people who have adopted the
island as their own has, in effect, morphed Puerto Rico into a blended race and civilization either
by assertiveness or by invitation of the original inhabitants. Although people were originally
attracted to Puerto Rico because of the gold nuggets found there, the beauty of the island is now
drawing people to it. Despite the motive, because of colonization, the genocide of the Tano
Indians, language, religion, currency, and the development of highways and other buildings are
all effects on Puerto Rico.
Before settlers and people of other countries came to Puerto Rico, the original
inhabitants were the Tano Indians. When Christopher Columbus first arrived to the island, one
online source says, they found the island populated by about 60,000 Arawak Indians, who
called themselves, Tano (Brief History of Puerto Rico). However, when the Spaniards
began to colonize Puerto Rico, many Tanos died due to low immunity of European diseases,
subsequently leading to the arrival of African slaves for forced labor. Some Tano Indians
revolted against the Spaniards, while others began to conceive with the new settlers and African
slaves. As a result, the Tano people and culture ultimately became consumed by death and
dismantled by the new generation of people who were of Tano, Spanish, and African descent.

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Consequently, as a result of the mixing of race between the Tano, Spanish, and African
people and the arrival of Americans in the 20th century, the language changed as well. Before
Spanish and English became the dominant languages on the island, the Tanos spoke an
Arawak language (Arawak Language Family). After the genocide of the Tano people,
their language slowly perished as well and subsequently, Spanish became the primary language
spoken until Americans came to Puerto Rico in the early 20th century and imposed that English
be spoken as well. Henceforth, due to colonization and the influence of the Spaniards and
Americans, Spanish is the dominant language in Puerto Rico, followed by English.
Just as the language has changed since the time of the Tano Indians, religion has
changed as well because of colonization of the Spaniards and later, by the Americans. The Tano
Indians worshiped through rituals and had Chiefs as the leader of the villages. As an effect of the
Spaniards gaining authority over Puerto Rico and with the death of the Tano Indians, new
generations began to adopt the religion of the new settlers. Consequently, Catholicism is now the
dominant religion in Puerto Rico. When the Americans gain control over Puerto Rico in the early
20th century, they made an effort to decree Protestant faith as the prominent religion. However,
because of Puerto Ricos many centuries of worship via Catholicism faith, the Americans were
not successful with their goal of converting the people of Puerto Ricos religious preference with
Protestant sect have come to represent close to ten percent, under United States influence
(March, The Religious Beliefs of Puerto Ricans). Therefore, due to Spanish colonization,
Catholicism is the official faith of between seventy and ninety percent of the population
(March, The Religious Beliefs of Puerto Ricans) and because of Americans efforts, Protestant
faith is practiced by about a tenth of the population.

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Even though Americans were not successful in converting the prime religion in Puerto
Rico, they were efficient in changing the currency of the island. As a result of Spanish
colonization, Puerto Ricans used the peso as currency for almost as long as they have spoken the
Spanish language. The Americans took control over Puerto Rico in the late 1800s and in effect,
converted the currency from pesos to the U.S. Dollar but because of the islands long history
using the peso, the U.S. Dollar is called a peso by some inhabitants of the island. The currency of
Puerto Rico has changed because of whom was colonizing the island and had control over it
during the time.
The religion, language and currency of Puerto Rico were not the only things affected by
colonization, but the economy has been as well. In the early 20th century, agriculture
represented 33.7% of total net income (Puerto Rico Economic Facts) but because of
duty free access to the U.S. and by tax incentives, U.S. firms have invested heavily in Puerto
Rico (Economy), and the economy is now primarily manufacturing. When the Americans
began to colonize Puerto Rico, they believed that agricultural economies where underdeveloped
and because of that began to shift the economy of Puerto Rico to manufacture things such as
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, and electronics (Economy). As an effect, the
numerous crops that had grown in Puerto Rico for many years where replaced with factories.
Also, in an attempt to make Puerto Rico a developed island, many hotels were built to
attract people from the mainland U.S. As an effect, many rainforests have been demolished and
replaced with swimming pools, water parks, and even skating arenas, greatly taking away from
Puerto Ricos natural beauty. As way of making highways and interstates on the island,
mountains were blown through, hills were eradicated, and the organic charm of the island was

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stolen. Due to colonization and the goal of developing Puerto Ricos economy, the islands
original beauty and charm has been taken.
Because of colonization and the greed of those who have settled in Puerto Rico over
many centuries, the language, religion, currency, and economy has been changed. Yet, the worst
change of all is the genocide of an entire race of people. The settlers who came into Puerto Rico
not only stole the islands original culture but forced the people to assimilate and adopt a new
one. Is the purpose of colonization to modify another group of people? It is not. Though change
can be good, a country, island or region should not be colonized for the benefit of one group and
the deterioration of another.

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Work Cited
"Arawak Language Family Sorosoro." Arawak Language Family Sorosoro. SoroSoro, 2009.
Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
"Brief History of Puerto Rico." - Caribbean Business. Casiano Communications, 2008-2014.
Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
"Economy." Puerto Rico. Maglay Riveria, 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
March, Kathleen. "The Religious Beliefs of Puerto Ricans." People. Demand Media, 2008-2014.
Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Puerto Rico Economic Facts." Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico. Government
Development Bank for Puerto Rico, 2008-2014. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

COMMENTS:
You still have not established why your points illustrate how Puerto Ricans see
themselves. You state facts but offer no analysis or meaning.
Review MLA format. Imitate the MLA sample.
Work on sentence structure and clear, concise phrasing that is not too informal or too
conversational.
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