The History of Puerto Rico
Despite the fact that the island of Puerto Rico is relatively small, it contains a rather large and detailed history. Beginning with the pre-Columbian era, moving into the modern age, and finally into the present, the history of Puerto Rico builds the story of the nation that has become one of the present era’s most popular tourist locations. Let’s take a look at some of the major points of Puerto Rican history and politics.
The known history of Puerto Rico begins in the pre-Columbian era, and settlements can be traced as far back as approximately 3000 BC, with the arrival of various Indian groups. The Ortoiroid people were believed to have settled the region first, with Puerto Rican history suggesting that the Saladoid tribe, and numerous others, beginning to populate the island around 400 BC until a little after 1000 AD. The Tainos people were the dominant group in the region until the Spanish took control of the area after Columbus’ voyage in the late fifteenth century. Although many indigenous groups lived in the area throughout the pre-Columbian era, the Tainos are widely considered to have had the largest impact on the current Puerto Rican culture.
After Columbus’ voyage brought international attention to the region, the Spanish wasted no time in exploiting the resources and the land of the island. This exploitation coupled with the new diseases introduced by the Spanish, and the war waged on the indigenous people by the Spanish conquistadors lead to the relatively quick demise of the Tainos people. Still, the Tainos people were the dominant people of the region until the late-sixteenth century, claiming their place as one of the leading influences in the history of Puerto Rico with respect to the culture that exists in the region today.
It didn’t take long for the Spanish to gain control of the region and overpower the undermanned, underdeveloped Tainos people, and once the Spanish gained that control, they claimed a large part of Puerto Rican history. Spain used the island as a military post during the numerous wars that were waged between the Spanish and the English through the eighteenth century. The island served as a pit-stop between Europe and other settlement areas in the New World, and would eventually become one of the last two Spanish colonies in the New World. The Spanish influence on the region is still very visible in the culture of the region today, and the impact that the Spanish have had on the history of Puerto Rico is undeniable.
Change came in the form of invasion in 1898 as Puerto Rico became the property of the United States after a battle during the Spanish-American War. The Spanish military had suffered numerous defeats and the loss of Puerto Rico was the last true devastating blow to the Spanish. The change in ownership all but completed the domination of the region by the English, and the change in ownership of the region would prove to have a dramatic impact on Puerto Rican history as the region continues to benefit from American influence.
In 1900, the Foraker Act established a civil government in Puerto Rico, and in 1917 citizens in Puerto Rico were granted United States citizenship. The Jones Act led to the development of a Constitution for Puerto Rico, and to the eventual establishment of democratic elections for the island, which was a dramatic step in the history of Puerto Rico. The island of Puerto Rico is currently a mostly-independent commonwealth controlled by the United States, and although there have been motions for full independence to be granted to the region, Puerto Rico remains a statistical oddity as the only such politically controlled commonwealth in American history.
Stretching only a hundred miles long and thirty-five miles wide, the tiny island of Puerto Rico would appear at first glance to have little historical or current influence, yet the history of Puerto Rico is one that has had great historical influence on multiple nations and groups of people. There is no absence of historical presence in the culture nor in the tourist attractions around the nation of Puerto Rico, so the region is perfect for students or tourists interested in the historical aspects of the nation.
The Pre-Columbian Era
The known history of Puerto Rico begins in the pre-Columbian era, and settlements can be traced as far back as approximately 3000 BC, with the arrival of various Indian groups. The Ortoiroid people were believed to have settled the region first, with Puerto Rican history suggesting that the Saladoid tribe, and numerous others, beginning to populate the island around 400 BC until a little after 1000 AD. The Tainos people were the dominant group in the region until the Spanish took control of the area after Columbus’ voyage in the late fifteenth century. Although many indigenous groups lived in the area throughout the pre-Columbian era, the Tainos are widely considered to have had the largest impact on the current Puerto Rican culture.
The Columbian Age
After Columbus’ voyage brought international attention to the region, the Spanish wasted no time in exploiting the resources and the land of the island. This exploitation coupled with the new diseases introduced by the Spanish, and the war waged on the indigenous people by the Spanish conquistadors lead to the relatively quick demise of the Tainos people. Still, the Tainos people were the dominant people of the region until the late-sixteenth century, claiming their place as one of the leading influences in the history of Puerto Rico with respect to the culture that exists in the region today.
And then the Spanish Rule
It didn’t take long for the Spanish to gain control of the region and overpower the undermanned, underdeveloped Tainos people, and once the Spanish gained that control, they claimed a large part of Puerto Rican history. Spain used the island as a military post during the numerous wars that were waged between the Spanish and the English through the eighteenth century. The island served as a pit-stop between Europe and other settlement areas in the New World, and would eventually become one of the last two Spanish colonies in the New World. The Spanish influence on the region is still very visible in the culture of the region today, and the impact that the Spanish have had on the history of Puerto Rico is undeniable.
American Authority
Change came in the form of invasion in 1898 as Puerto Rico became the property of the United States after a battle during the Spanish-American War. The Spanish military had suffered numerous defeats and the loss of Puerto Rico was the last true devastating blow to the Spanish. The change in ownership all but completed the domination of the region by the English, and the change in ownership of the region would prove to have a dramatic impact on Puerto Rican history as the region continues to benefit from American influence.
Moves toward Puerto Rican Independence
In 1900, the Foraker Act established a civil government in Puerto Rico, and in 1917 citizens in Puerto Rico were granted United States citizenship. The Jones Act led to the development of a Constitution for Puerto Rico, and to the eventual establishment of democratic elections for the island, which was a dramatic step in the history of Puerto Rico. The island of Puerto Rico is currently a mostly-independent commonwealth controlled by the United States, and although there have been motions for full independence to be granted to the region, Puerto Rico remains a statistical oddity as the only such politically controlled commonwealth in American history.
Stretching only a hundred miles long and thirty-five miles wide, the tiny island of Puerto Rico would appear at first glance to have little historical or current influence, yet the history of Puerto Rico is one that has had great historical influence on multiple nations and groups of people. There is no absence of historical presence in the culture nor in the tourist attractions around the nation of Puerto Rico, so the region is perfect for students or tourists interested in the historical aspects of the nation.
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