Puerto Rico - A commonwealth with U.S.A - Essay Example

The enjoining of Puerto Rico, according to analysts and researchers in historical studies, as a commonwealth in USA, is one that requires a detailed understanding of the events that took place prior and after the 1952 event. With the USA developing a relationship with Puerto Rico in the 1898 Spanish-American warfare, by the 20th century Puerto Rico was under the martial support of USA. In regards to the words by Levy & Bahrawi, by the year 1947 Puerto Rico was granted the right to select their own ruler, thanks to the US government (28).

With Munoz Marin taking over Puerto Rico, the country arrived at the rank of US commonwealth in October 1950. Levy & Bahrawi indicate that the signing of the Puerto Rico Commonwealth Bill guaranteed the country’s status as a commonwealth of USA (28). On the other hand, the citizens of Puerto Rico consistently supported this status by voting for spiraling of the rapport between Puerto Rico and USA. However, it is vital to note that though the ratio for the commonwealth status was extremely high as opposed to the advocates against the commonwealth status, the nationalist movement was extremely willing to campaign for independence.

Levy & Bahrawi are of the view that by January 2005 when Anibal Acevedo-Vila was elected the governor of Puerto Rico, the country was driven towards a struggle for autonomy or statehood of the country (29). It can, therefore, be argued that the commonwealth status of Puerto Rico was attained after granting of American citizenship to the Puerto Ricans. This was to later be a conflict especially after the disasters that faced the country under the American rule. In this case, the Puerto Ricans wanted change to be on their own.

Puerto Ricans- USA citizens In the research compiled by Thomas, Puerto Ricans attained what would be referred as an exceptional status of US citizens (136). Though the Puerto Ricans were viewed as burdens to the New Yorkers especially in terms of distribution of resources in the city, Thomas is of the opinion that the Puerto Ricans were already US citizens and a long struggle would see to their independence (137). In the year 1917, the then US president, Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones- Shafroth Act which legalized the Puerto Ricans to be U.S. citizens.

This is unlike the previous years when the Puerto Rico was a commonwealth of US. Upon signing of the Jones- Shafroth Act the Puerto Ricans became full US citizens. The Puerto Rican government was made similar to that of USA, as well as the Puerto Ricans enjoying civil rights in the country according to Sanchez (41). Of essence, Sanchez indicates that the Puerto Ricans became USA citizens after the signing of Jones-Shafroth Act (42). Though a lot of resentment resulted from this move, a majority of the Puerto Ricans would be forced to participate in US wars against other states, an aspect which did not please the Puerto Ricans.

Protests followed soon after to campaign against USA control over Puerto Rico’s constitutional rules and the U.S. Congress. (517 words) Summary From the depictions by the authors of the works of the history of Puerto Rico, I not only like the pieces of compilations, but I am also impressed by the quality and depth of research conducted by the authors. In the work by Levy & Bahrawi on Puerto Rico for example, it is easy to get a glimpse of the history of Puerto Rico and commonwealth from the headings in the work.

These headings allow the reader get a quick search of the related chapters and the facts behind the years. Levy & Bahrawi are also keen to give the accurate dates of the chronology of events that took place during that particular time in history, an aspect that makes me believe the facts inscribed in the book. The context of events is also evident from the piece, which gives the author an idea of what happened before, at the particular time and after the event. The reader therefore gets a clear picture of the entire theme brought forward by the authors. Having