Puerto Rico/U.S. Foreign Policy Review

Which European empire controlled Puerto Rico until 1898?

Answer: Spain

Why did the United States invade Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War?

Answer: To establish and develop American sugar industries on the island of Puerto Rico.

What did Americans promise Puerto Rico when they arrived to fight Spain?

Answer: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Did the Americans uphold that promise Did the Americans uphold that promise? Explain what Americans did after defeating Spain.

Answer: They did not keep their promise Answer: They did not keep their promise. Instead, they occupied Puerto Rico and established their own sugar plantations.

According to the Insular Cases, why did the U. S According to the Insular Cases, why did the U.S. Constitution not apply to Puerto Rico?

Answer: According to the Insular Cases, Puerto Ricans were considered an “alien race” and were not of Anglo-Saxon decent.

Why were Puerto Ricans allowed to become U.S. citizens in 1917?

Answer: The U.S. wanted to use Puerto Ricans to fight in WWI.

What is Puerto Rico’s current status? (relationship with the U.S.)

Answer: Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. territory (commonwealth).

What type of political representation does Puerto Rico have in the U.S.?

Answer: One representative in the house of representatives that does not have a vote.

What are three reasons for Puerto Rico’s economic crisis before Hurricane Maria?

Answer: 1. Jones Act – high tariffs 2. Change in tax policy – less tax Answer: 1. Jones Act – high tariffs 2. Change in tax policy – less tax incentives meant less businesses 3. Large amount of debt

List the five types of HUMAN geography and describe how the topic of Puerto Rico and be related to each one.

5 Types of Human Geography 1. Cultural – lifestyle (religion, food, clothing, art, etc.) 2. Population – people and numbers 3. Economic – money, trade, production, jobs, etc. 4. Political – government 5. Urban – Cities (how people use the space in cities) Puerto Rico Cultural – Puerto Ricans may lose their culture if they become a state Population – Puerto Ricans are moving to the mainland U.S. because of Hurricane Maria. Economic – Puerto Rico is in debt. Political – Puerto Rico and statehood debate Urban – infrastructure has been destroyed by Hurricane Maria and needs to be rebuilt.

Thinking about U.S. History, what does this picture represent?

Answer: Manifest Destiny a term for the prevalant attitude during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined by God to control as much of North America as possible.

What was the primary motivation for U. S What was the primary motivation for U.S. movement into the Pacific Ocean during the 1850s?

Answer: private, economic interests in trading and excavating natural resources.

Why did Americans first start to settle in Hawaii in the late 1820s?

Answer: Presbyterian and Congregational missionaries attempted to convert and “Americanize” the Hawaiian population.

What caused Queen Liliuakalani to step down from her throne in 1893?

Answer: Hawaii’s monarchy was overthrown by American businessmen and sugar planters with the help of the U.S. Navy.