Close your eyes and think of Puerto Rico. Endless stretches of sand, luxury beach resorts and swaying palm trees, right? Well, long before the tourists, all-inclusive vacations and countless beach-front hotels in Puerto Rico, the island was once inhabited only by the Taino Indians and resembled what one might imagine a tropical island of complete isolation to look like.
But as with anything pure and genuine, the island was soon conquered in 1493 by conquistadors of the Spanish crown and, as a result, Spanish culture was assimilated unto the last remaining natives. Puerto Rico's civilization matured for four centuries, its culture incubating, and in 1868, the first independence revolution occurred.
Similar to the events that took place 400 years earlier, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War.
Significant Milestones of the 20th century:
* In 1917, Puerto Ricans were given United States citizenship.
* Puerto Rico's final vie for true independence occurs in 1950 in a lesser known battle, taking place in the town of Jayuya.
Although it is still considered a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico has maintained a non-sovereign country status since 1953. As testament to the country's unique status, Puerto Rico, on four separate occasions, voted to remain an Associated Free State, or Libre Asociado, rather than to become a U.S. state or a fully independent nation.
Puerto Rico's past is one distinguished by a lingering question of identity; yet, more recently, its resilience against allowing others to answer that question for them.
About the Author
Enid Glasgow is a travel writer who enjoys traveling in the Americas and Caribbean. When visiting Puerto Rico, she stays at luxury hotels in Puerto Rico like Gran Melia.
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