US involvement in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony in the Caribbean until 1898 when it was transferred to
America under the Treaty of Paris.

During the Cuban war of independence Spain had promised Puerto Rico internal self-
government and granted a constitution in 1897 but before it could into effect an American force
was sent into Puerto Rico in July 1898.

Reasons for Intervention:

● The US invaded during the Spanish-American war due to the island strategic location.
● It was also easy to occupy Puerto Rico at this point as there was a long standing trading
relationship between the island and the US.
● There had been little resistance as the Puerto Ricans welcomed the American soldiers.
They hoped for political rights and economic benefits that they were denied under
Spanish rule.

Nature of intervention/ impacts of the intervention:

● Once they were given full control of the island within the treaty of Paris a 2 year period
of military rule ensued.
● A policy of establishing American control rather than direct rule was followed in Puerto
Rico.
● As such the military rule ended when congress passed the FORAKER ACT in 1900
which set up a civil government and a law making body of elected Puerto Ricans. But
final power still rested in the hands of the US through the Puerto Rican senate, made up
of an American governor and five “official” members appointed by the American
government.
● Judges in the Puerto rican supreme court were also appointed by the US. American
labour leaders and racist politicians were satisfied by another section of the foraker act
which stated that Puerto Ricans were not American citizens and could not travel freely to
the US.
● Americans quickly became active in Puerto rico carrying out programs as they had in
cuba, malaria, yellow fever and other diseases were controlled and work started on a
large scale harbour repairs, road building schemes and irrigation projects.
● Thus most Puerto Ricans were still denied political rights, as in cuba the aim on
administration was the thorough administration of the island, culturally and
economically.
● JONES ACT 1917, passed by the American government to make Puerto rico a US
territory, US controlled their government and legal affairs, Puerto Ricans were now US
citizens but could not vote for US elections, could be drafted into the US army and could
control their own national security.
● ORGANIC ACT 1947, gave Puerto Ricans rights to vote for their governors, legislative
and executive bodies, gave them a level of political independence but were not
completely independent of the US.
● In Puerto Rico, in the 1940s, Operation Bootstrap was a large programme to develop
large industries.