[From the Oxford Companion to American History] PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico, 105 miles long and 25 miles wide, is the easternmost island of the West Indies group known as the Greater Antilles. It was visited by Columbus in 1493, and Ponce de Leon made it a Spanish outpost in 1509. After its present capital, San Juan, had been established as an important port (1521), the island contributed to the Spanish economy by producing tropical crops, chiefly sugar. Negro slaves were introduced after the native Indian tribes proved intractable, and they provided labor during the three centuries of relatively quiet plantation existence, until slavery was abolished in 1873. Early in 1898 Spain granted autonomy to Puerto Rico, which became a Territory (unorganized) of the United States after the Spanish-American War, Citizenship was conferred on Puerto Ricans in 1917. In 1947 the islanders were permitted to choose their own governor. Since 1952 Puerto Rico has been unique in its status as a free commonwealth associated with the United States, and at the same time fully self-governed at home. (What this association means in terms of American constitutional law has yet to be determined.) After World War II pressing problems of overpopulation an unemployment led to heavy emigration to the continental United States and the relocation of more than 500,000 Puerto Ricans in New York City, where they have established communities, chiefly in Harlem. Today Puerto Rico has a population of more than 2.7 million. It derives its largest income from manufacturing, with agriculture and the tourist industry ranking high. (111) |