History of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s history began with Indigenous Taíno peoples. Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, leading to Spanish colonization. The island became valuable for sugar production and military strategy. In 1898, after the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States. It became a U.S. territory, gaining limited self-governance in 1952 with the establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. While Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they don’t have the right to vote in presidential elections. The island continues to navigate its identity and status, balancing cultural heritage with ongoing discussions about statehood, independence, or maintaining the current commonwealth status.