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U.S. Forces land on Puerto Rico
United States forces land on the island of Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. While taking control, General Nelson A. Miles claims to the Puerto Rican people that the United States is a far less oppressive empire than the Spanish who ruled for hundreds of years prior. -
Official Control
Spain and the United States sign a peace treaty, ending the Spanish-American war and officially leaving Puerto Rico in the hands of the U.S. -
Status Change
President Woodrow Wilson signs the Jones-Shafroth Act which makes Puerto Rico an organized, yet unincorporated territory. The act gives Puerto Ricans United States citizenship although they are not allowed to vote. In addition, the act creates a mainly self-governing Puerto Rican government. -
Political Parties
Two major political parties are created: The Nationalist Party, which supports total Puerto Rican independence, and the Popular Democratic Party, which supports maintining Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory. -
Period: to
"Commonwealth"
Puerto Rico is allowed by president Truman to write its own constitution and the document is released in 1952. In the constitution the government is described as a "commonwealth" associated with the United States. Officially, although perhaps not in practice, Puerto Rico is self-governing
