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Why Is Puerto Rico Still Not a U.S. State? Discover the Complex Relationship and Strategic Importance of This Territory for the U.S. Over More Than a Century.
Puerto Rico, the Caribbean island with a GDP of US$ 117 billion, is notoriously known for its paradise-like landscapes, vibrant Latin culture, and complex political position as an unincorporated territory of the United States for over a century. Understand why Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state and how the Latin country operates.
Understand the History of Puerto Rico
To understand Puerto Rico’s current condition, it is essential to explore the related historical and political factors that can explain why Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state.
It is necessary to go back to 1508, when Spanish colonization in Puerto Rico began, establishing a government on the island and naming it San Juan Bautista. Just like in other Caribbean colonies like Cuba and Haiti, the colonizers implemented the encomienda system, dividing land for agricultural production and gold extraction.
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Friends have been building a small “town” for 30 years to grow old together, with compact houses, a common area, nature surrounding it, and a collective life project designed for friendship, coexistence, and simplicity.
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This small town in Germany created its own currency 24 years ago, today it circulates millions per year, is accepted in over 300 stores, and the German government allowed all of this to happen under one condition.
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Curitiba is shrinking and is expected to lose 97,000 residents by 2050, while inland cities in Paraná such as Sarandi, Araucária, and Toledo are experiencing accelerated growth that is changing the entire state’s map.
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Tourists were poisoned on Everest in a million-dollar fraud scheme involving helicopters that diverted over $19 million and shocked international authorities.
The native Taínos, the indigenous population of the Island, were forced to work under brutal conditions, being decimated by the working conditions and diseases brought by Europeans such as smallpox, which led to the extinction of up to 90% of this population in less than three decades.
From the mid-16th century, with the rise of threats from other European empires, Spain recognized Puerto Rico’s strategic importance as a defense point and trade route in the Caribbean.
Military forts were built to protect the island from the threats of Dutch, French, and British invaders, making Puerto Rico a crucial point for Spanish shipping routes between the Americas and Europe. In 1887, local movements pushed for reforms, culminating in the establishment of a local parliament; however, independence was never achieved by the island, as the Spanish-American War occurred in 1898.
Understand the Importance of Puerto Rico to the U.S.
A direct war between Spain and the U.S. occurred in April 1898, forcing a Spanish surrender within a span of 8 months of conflict, marking the end of the Spanish Empire’s 400-year presence in the Caribbean, after Spain ceded territories like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the Americans. However, while regions like Cuba gained independence after the Spanish defeat, Puerto Rico became an American territory.
The presence of Americans in the region initially reflected an expansionist strategy driven by military and economic interests. The island’s location in the Caribbean was crucial for the United States, offering a strategic point to control trade routes and maintain a forceful position close to the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914.
The possession of Puerto Rico provided the U.S. with protection against European influences in the Caribbean, in addition to establishing a forward base that helped protect America’s growing trade routes in Latin America and between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Why Is Puerto Rico Not a U.S. State?
This raises the question of why Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state. Firstly, it is worth mentioning that Puerto Rican administration remained centralized, with Washington controlling the island’s laws and government until a new administration was established in the early 20th century with the creation of the Foraker Act in 1900.
This allowed for the establishment of a civil government in Puerto Rico, where governance was partially autonomous but with strong American influence. The country has limited autonomy, little influence over the U.S., and suffers from significant prejudice from Americans, and these issues created the dilemma of political division and are among the reasons why Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state, with the Puerto Rican population itself divided regarding the possibility of becoming a state.
Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state because, although it has been a territory of the United States since 1898, it has a differentiated political status. It is an unincorporated territory, meaning that it belongs to the U.S. but is not an integral part of the country as a state. This situation is governed by the U.S. Constitution and decisions of Congress, which has authority over territories.
Puerto Ricans have held American citizenship since 1917 but do not have the same political rights as citizens in the states. For example, they cannot vote in presidential elections, and their representative in Congress does not have the right to vote. This is because the territory is not considered a full state, which limits its political participation.
The question of statehood has been debated for decades. Many Puerto Ricans advocate for statehood to obtain equal rights, while others prefer to maintain the current status or seek independence. Decisions about Puerto Rico’s political future depend both on the will of the local people and the U.S. Congress, which would have to approve any change. To date, there has not been sufficient consensus to transform Puerto Rico into an official state.
In 2020, for example, a referendum on Puerto Rico’s status was held where 52% voted in favor of becoming a U.S. state.
However, as the power to grant statehood lies with the United States Congress, the territory has not been integrated, as despite both parties supporting Puerto Rico’s self-determination, there is a fear primarily from the Republican side that including Puerto Rico as a state would alter the balance of power in the American Congress, increasing the representation of Hispanic and Latino voices.
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