Irma E. Garca
After the Spanish-American War Puerto Rico was under a military government for two years (1898-1900). In 1900 the Congress of the United States passed the Foraker Act for civilian rule. It created the office of the presidentially nominated Governor, assisted by an Executive Council, at least five of whom had to be native inhabitants of the Island, with the remaining six offices open to American appointees. It was not until 1946 that the first Puerto Rican governor was appointed by the incumbent president Harry S. Truman.
In 1917 Congress granted American citizenship to all those who wanted it, through the Jones Act. In 1947 the Elective Governor Act was passed and Luis Mu–oz-Mar’n became the first elected Governor of Puerto Rico. In 1950 President Truman signed the Puerto Rican Commonwealth Bill. In 1952 Congress approved Puerto Rico’s Constitution and it officially became a Free Associated State.
Today there are four political parties in the island.
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1. Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party)
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2. Partido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party)
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3. Partido Independentista (Independence Party)
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4. Partido Socialista (Socialist Party)
The New Progressive Party emerged in 1968 from discontented members of the estranged Republican Statehood Party and the Popular Democratic Party. The Popular Democratic Party was founded by former Governor Luis Mu–oz Mar’n in 1938. It came into power in 1940, generated vital economic recovery programs, created the free associated state system for Puerto Rico and reigned continuosly until 1968. The Independence Party advocates complete independence for Puerto Rico with the consent of the people. It has a small, but vocal minority. Up to now it has not been able to demonstrate a feasible plan for independence that will convince the majority of the people. The Socialist Party represents a more radical group that made it to the polls during the last elections. It has no relation to the Socialist Party of 1915.
Student Activities
Useful resources:
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1. Connors, Robert E. and Hasner, Ronald R.,
Puerto
Rico:
An Island On The Move
, Cooperstown, N.Y., Discovery Enterprise, 1972.
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2. Figueroa, Loida,
Histoy of Puerto Rico
, New York, Anaya Book Company, Inc., 1974.
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3. Lewis, Gordon,
Puerto Rico: Freedom and Power
in the Caribbean
, New York, Modern Review Press, 1968.
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1. Locate Puerto Rico on maps and globes.
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2. Learn about the Spanish American War and the Treaty of Paris of 1898.
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3. Discuss the difference between the Commonwealth and the colonial status (Some literature that might be helpful would be the Constituent Assembly debates of 1951-1952, and the federal Congress hearings on Public Law 600 of 1950, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1950, 1952).
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4. Read about the government structure provided in the Foraker Act of 1900 and Jones Act of 1917.
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5. Discuss the importance of the Elective Governor Act of 1947.
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6. Discuss the meaning of effective representation in Congress.