Puerto Rico is a place, though small, has a big history and is full of many riches. Many have no idea who or what Puerto Rico is and I write this paper not only to inform others but to show pride in where I come from. I will explain its location, history, government, religion, culture, holidays, and heroes in hope of broadening the minds of others. Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and is 1,150 miles below Florida. Puerto Rico is 106 miles long and 37 miles wide, making it the smallest island of the Greater Antilles. It also has several islands off its coast: Vieques, Culebre, and Mona. Its highest point is a mountain called Cerro de Punta whose elevation is 4,390 ft. The population is about 3.5 million
…show more content…
They named the island Boriken and lived off its resources such as pineapples, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second expedition in 1493 and renames it San Juan Bautista. Joan Ponce de Leon who was with Columbus on his travels founded Caparra which is a farm village and later became known as San Juan. In Caparra colonist forced the Taino to work for free and in the gold mines. Priest protested this and the Spanish throne forced the colonist to pay the natives and teach them the Christian religion. The Taino people eventually had enough abuse and disease that they rebelled. Sadly they lost the fight and fled to the mountains. African slaves were imported in their place. “The ever arriving Spaniards settlers brought no women on their ships. To populate the country, the Spaniard took Indian women. With the arrival of African slaves, other elements were added. This historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico without racial problems.” By the 1800 the slave population was at about 13,000. By 1830 its major exports were sugar, coffee, and molasses which provide a steady income to Spain. In 1868 there was a revolt against Spanish rule known as “El Grito de Lares” meaning The Cry of Lares, though it was suppressed it became known as the first symbol of independence. In 1873 Spain abolished slavery from Puerto Rico. During the Spanish- American war Spain loses Puerto Rico along with Cuba and the Philippines. The Foraker Law allowed the U.S. to establish civil government and free
They named the island Boriken and lived off its resources such as pineapples, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second expedition in 1493 and renames it San Juan Bautista. Joan Ponce de Leon who was with Columbus on his travels founded Caparra which is a farm village and later became known as San Juan. In Caparra colonist forced the Taino to work for free and in the gold mines. Priest protested this and the Spanish throne forced the colonist to pay the natives and teach them the Christian religion. The Taino people eventually had enough abuse and disease that they rebelled. Sadly they lost the fight and fled to the mountains. African slaves were imported in their place. “The ever arriving Spaniards settlers brought no women on their ships. To populate the country, the Spaniard took Indian women. With the arrival of African slaves, other elements were added. This historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico without racial problems.” By the 1800 the slave population was at about 13,000. By 1830 its major exports were sugar, coffee, and molasses which provide a steady income to Spain. In 1868 there was a revolt against Spanish rule known as “El Grito de Lares” meaning The Cry of Lares, though it was suppressed it became known as the first symbol of independence. In 1873 Spain abolished slavery from Puerto Rico. During the Spanish- American war Spain loses Puerto Rico along with Cuba and the Philippines. The Foraker Law allowed the U.S. to establish civil government and free