Critical Thinking 18-3!

How did American rule of Puerto Rico harm Puerto Ricans? How did it help Puerto Ricans? Do you think the benefits outweighed the harmful effects?

When America took rule over Puerto Rico it caused harm to the Puerto Ricans. American government could not promise Puerto Ricans independence after the war. Also the American military was stilled station on the island and would remain so until congress said other wise. Many Puerto Ricans wanted to have independence and statehood but the Us government continued to have military forces and control over the island because it was very strategic land for the US to have. The island would secure a Us presence in the Caribbean and was important for protecting the future canal that the untied States was planning on building. Another harmful thing was the small amount of power the Puerto Ricans were given. Though congress vote out military control with the Foraker Act, it gave the president the right to elect the Puerto Ricans govern, The Puerto Ricans themselves only had the power to elect one representative.

There was also benefits for the Puerto Ricans after he Spanish-American war. Congress had the right to grant US citizenship and they were also given the right to elect there two houses of their legislature. In the end I think that the benefits do not outweigh the harmful effects. The Puerto Ricans had gained a measure of independence under the rule of Spain and when they were taking over by the US it seemed like they were actually losing more power then they were gaining. The Puerto Ricans were being used to benefit the united stats and because of it they lost some of there freedom.