PUERTO RICO

The island of Boriquén, populated by Arawaks, is discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. He renames the island San Juan Bautista and the colonization by Spain starts. Gradually the name Puerto Rico becomes the usual name. Puerto Ricans generally want autonomy but not independence from Spain. At the end of the nineteenth century Luis Muñoz Rivera leads the autonomists and he persuades in 1897 Spain agree to autonomy. The following year Puerto Rico's first autonomous government is organized with Muñoz Rivera as leader. Within a year, Puerto Rico is invaded by the United States in the Spanish-American War. In 1988 Spain cedes the island to the United States.

Puerto Rico becomes a United States territory with self-government in 1917. Nationalism grows and this escalates in 1937 into the Ponce Massacre, when 18 demonstrators are killes. Politics are dominated since 1940 by the liberal democrat Partido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party, PPD). Although the party favors independence, the need for social and economic reform is the priority, not the status. It wins the first gubernatorial elections in 1948 with Luis Muñoz Marin as governor. Puerto Ricans vote in a 1951 referendum to become a commonwealth of the US rather than remain a colony. Puerto Rico becomes a gubernatorial democratic state. Until 1964 Luis Muñoz Marin is governor, succeeded in 1965 by Roberto Sánchez Vilella. In 1968 the conservative and pro-statehood Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) wins the gubernatorial elections. Since then power alternates with the PNP in power from 1968-1972 (Luis Alberto Ferré), 1976-1984 (Carlos Romero Barceló) and 1992-2000 (with Pedro Rosselló) and the PPD in power from 1972-1976 (Rafael Hernández Colón), 1984-1992 (Rafael Hernández Colón again) and since 2000. In 2000 Sila María Calderón becomes governor.