Why Puerto Rico has failed to gain statehood

Since 1898, when the US annexed Puerto Rico as part of the Treaty of Paris to end the

Spanish-American War, it has been a US territory. Puerto Rico has not become a state for a

variety of reasons. Puerto Ricans' lack of representation in the US Congress is one of the

causes. Another factor is the absence of a voting representative for Puerto Rico in the

Electoral College. Last but not least, Puerto Ricans have historically been against statehood

(Rubinstein 417).

Pros of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state

Puerto Rico's status as a state has been hotly contested for many years. This problem

has advantages and disadvantages. The benefits of Puerto Rico becoming a state include

increased representation in Congress and the Electoral College, enhanced access to federal

funding and programs, more chances for employment, a better quality of life, and stronger

linkages with the rest of the US (Romero-Barceló 60). If Puerto Rico were to become a state,

it would add two Senators and five Representatives to the US Congress. If Puerto Rico were

to become a state, its ties to the US mainland would be greater.

Cons of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state

The drawbacks of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state include the following: it will

receive less funding from the government than it does now; it will be expected to pay

government fees from which they are currently exempt; it will also lose its independence and

be subject to American law; and finally, its residents will be forced to adopt English as their

official language rather than Spanish(Romero-Barceló 62).

Question

Give three distinct features of Puerto Rico as compared to the other states.
 Works Cited

Romero-Barceló, Carlos. "Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: The Case for Statehood." Foreign Affairs,

vol. 59, no. 1, 1980, p. 60.

Rubinstein, Alvin Z. "The case against Puerto Rican statehood." Orbis, vol. 45, no. 3, 2001,

pp. 415-431.