Societal, Political, and Economical Changes in Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico and Cuba are known to be the two wings of the same bird, mostly because of their great similarities in history, culture, and struggles; yet, because of their differences in achieving their goals of self-government. Cuba was able to have full independence from Spain and have its own form of government; nonetheless, Puerto Rico, after achieving its independence from Spain, was annexed by the United States of America toward the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. Both of these islands, under Spanish rule, survived violent political policies and excessive military personnel in their lands and were able to achieve a form of sovereignty. Puerto Rico and Cuba were the final colonies of Spain in the Western Hemisphere; Cuba gained independence, yet Puerto Rico achieved a different form of sovereignty by becoming a territory of the United States. Moreover, this annexation of Puerto Rico with the US creates a democratic form of colonization; known popularly as a Commonwealth, but to the world Puerto Rico is still known as the oldest colony in the world. It is believed by many that 1898 was a year of liberation and domination because of the Spanish-American War (García 39). After the war had concluded Puerto Rico had finally, after centuries of Spanish rule, been free of the tyrannical policies of the Spanish government in the island; moreover, this led to the clear pavement of the path for domination of the island of Puerto Rico by the United States. For the years to come once the US takes control of Puerto Rico, US military leaders in order to create a stable political, economical, and social environment governed the people of Puerto Rico. After years of legislation and negotiations from Puerto Rico’s leadership, in 1952... ... middle of paper ... ...14, 2012). By Rafael, Hernandez Colon. 1998. "Puerto Rico: Statehood Or Status Quo? --- Separate Cultures Keep Us Apart." Wall Street Journal, Jul 23, 1-A16. http://search.proquest.com.esearch.ut.edu/docview/398785262?accountid=14762. Christopher Schmidt-Nowara. "Politics and Ideas in Latin American Independence." Latin American Research Review 45, no. 2 (2010): 228-235. http://muse.jhu.edu/ (accessed November 14, 2012). Gervasio, Luis Garcia. 2000. "I Am the Other: Puerto Rico in the Eyes of North Americans, 1898." The Journal of American History 87 (1): 39-64. http://search.proquest.com.esearch.ut.edu/docview/224901779?accountid=14762. Emilio Pantojas-García. “The Puerto Rican Paradox: Colonialism Revisited, 2005.” University of Texas Press Latin American Research Review 40.3 (2005) 163-176 "PUERTO RICO: HOY, AYER Y MANANA." Impacto: 4. Jun 14 1994. ProQuest. Web.

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