FIVE REASONS FOR PUERTO RICANS’ SUPPORT OF FREE ASSOCIATED

STATEHOOD IN 1952:
1. Free associated statehood would establish Puerto Ricans as American citizens granting
them the opportunity to move to the United States in search of better job opportunities
and higher wages.
2. Puerto Ricans living in the United States would be able to send back remittances to their
family members in Puerto Rico which would boost the country’s foreign currency,
benefiting the economy.
3. Puerto Rico would be guaranteed US protection as US federal funds would provide a
variety of services including the coast guard and national guard.
4. The island would save financial resources in the sector of foreign affairs as this would be
looked after by the US, saving them foreign affairs expenditure.
5. Free associated statehood would provide Puerto Rico with numerous benefits especially
in the form of services as the United States would fund postal services, customs,
naturalization, diplomatic services and some social welfare benefits for Puerto Ricans.

FIVE REASONS FOR PUERTO RICANS’ OPPOSITION OF FREE ASSOCIATED

STATEHOOD IN 1952:
1. Puerto Ricans may have felt like “second class” American citizens as despite their
citizenship status they would not be able to vote in the United States’ federal elections
unless they were on the mainland at that time. The feeling of insecurity fostered by this
condition would have encouraged distrust of the Free Associated Statehood and its
disadvantages.
2. Restrictions on the use of federal funds allocated to the island would have created a
negative feeling of dependency on the US making Puerto Ricans feel that they had little
control over their finances which could prove to be detrimental to the island over time.
3. As Puerto
4. Ricans were disallowed input in their foreign affairs and defense, citizens wishing for
greater involvement in governmental affairs by their own countrymen would have been
discontented with placing trust in the US on such important matters that would be of
lesser importance to Americans.
5. There would be a lot of dependence on American capital and financing, allowing US
investors to dominate the Puerto Rican economy.
6. People feared that Puerto Rican culture would be pushed aside and perhaps eventually
forgotten due to the great influence of American culture.