Island Hopping Puerto Rico History

ISLAND HPPING

A Brief History of Puerto Rico

Although recent archeological finds in Puerto Rico show evidence of human occupation as early as 3,000 BC (a race called the Arcaicos or Archaics), the Igneri are thought to have reached the island between 200 BC and 100 AD. Some ethnologists speculate that these people originated in Florida and worked their way eastward, against the prevailing winds and currents, through Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and on into the eastern Caribbean.

Hot on the heels of the Igneri were an Arawakan people who are thought to have populated the island sometime around 300 AD. Originating in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, these people came to be known as the Saladoids and several of their colorful pottery fragments have been found on the island. The Saladoids were primarily fishermen and were disappeared from Puerto Rico around 600 AD.

The Saladoids were followed by the Ostionoids who were not as adept at pottery making, but quite skillful at polishing stones for jewelry. They are known as Ostionoids from the archeological finds in the Puerto Rican town of Ostiones. The Ostionoids were related to the most notable settlers, the Tainos who called the island Borinquen which means “Land of the Noble Lord” in Arawakan and to this day some Puerto Ricans claim they are Boricuas. If you recall from your history lessons, the Tainos were Arawaks (meaning they spoke the Arawakan language) who arrived in Puerto Rico sometime after 1,000 AD. The Tainos originally sprang from the Guiana Plateau region of Venezuela and inhabited the islands of the Caribbean from South America northward all the way to The Bahamas where they were known as the Lucayans. The Tainos were chased by the far fiercer Caribs who engaged them a century before the arrival of Columbus. But the sounding of the Taino death knell in Puerto Rico actually came at the hands of the Spanish.

The first non-indian to discover Puerto Rico was the Admiral of All Oceans, Christopher Columbus, during his second voyage to the New World on November 19, 1493. Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist and the principal port on the northern coast Puerto Rico. However no attempt at colonization was made until Juan Ponce de Leon was given a charter by the King of Spain in 1508. In the meantime the Taino population of 30,000-60,000 was being decimated by Spanish Conquistadors who wanted to enslave the peaceful Tainos. Those not forced into slaving in the fields and mines of Puerto Rico died from disease or suicide rather than enter a life of slavery. The Tainos suffered from the European diseases that the Spaniards brought with them, smallpox and whopping cough. The Tainos had no immunity to these diseases, but were able to pay back the Spanish in one way in that they introduced the Spanish invaders to syphilis. No pure-blooded Tainos remain on Puerto Rico, the blood of the few female survivors of that civilization became intermingled over the years with the Spanish and their African slaves, primarily in the interior portions of the island. Though they are gone, some of the Taino names remain. Places like Caguas, Orocovis, Morovis, and Guajataca are all Taino (Arawakan) in origin.

Ponce de Leon set up a settlement at Caparra, which was moved to the current Old San Juan the year that Ponce de Leon died in Florida from wounds in 1521. The primary reason for the move was the mosquito infestation from the nearby swamps. The new capital city became known as San Juan and the name of the island changed to Puerto Rico, meaning Rich Port.

To protect their investments on the island, the Spanish began building a series of magnificent fortifications such as El Morro, San Cristobal, San Geronimo and a huge city wall, all of which still stand guard today at the entrance to San Juan Harbor. The forts later stood the test of attacks by the French, English, and the Dutch. Old San Juan is the second oldest Spanish colonial city in the New World and is a stunning example of Spanish colonial architecture, most of which has been beautifully restored. The cobblestones paving the streets were originally ballast stones in the ships that visited the port. Later, in the 1700’s, the cities of Ponce and Mayaguez were established on the southern and western shores of the island.

Because life under Spanish rule was not easy, a growing contraband business began and pirates began to frequent Puerto Rico. Many an enemy of Spain profited for the riches of the island during these years. One character who came to fame at this time was Roberto Cofresi. Cofresi is said to have shared his spoils with the poor until his execution in San Juan for his piratical activities. A separatist movement was born and many Puerto Ricans fought for Puerto Rican independence only to have their movement stopped by the Spanish time and time again.

In the early 19^th century, the King of Spain granted a Cedula de Gracia to increase the population of Puerto Rico. This act awarded land grants to immigrants from South American colonies, Spain, and various other European countries to try to establish a larger European population on the island. This is when the change began from a small farm economy to larger plantations, coffee and later sugar.

In 1868 Puerto Rican rebels staged a revolt known as Grito de Lares that turned out to be a military failure, but a heartening victory in the small town of Lares in the heart of coffee country. Spain finally granted Puerto Rico a small and short-lived bit of autonomy some three decades later. Less than a year later, American troops invaded Puerto Rico at Guanica on July 25, 1898 (during the Spanish-American War). No Puerto Ricans were killed, but 50 Spanish and 50 U.S. Troops died in battles. The local people, who had strong memories of the Grito de Lares, for the most part did not oppose the U.S. forces although the government in San Juan did declare loyalty to Spain. The U.S. claimed Puerto Rico as a war prize and the island was ceded to the United States at the Treaty of Paris.

In 1917 the Jones Act granted all Puerto Ricans American citizenship, but this was a hollow victory as Puerto Rico was stilled ruled by a governor appointed by the President of the United States. The Great Depression hit Puerto Rico hard. In the 1930’s Pedro Albizu Campos, a Harvard-educated lawyer, came to the forefront in Puerto Rico as a lead of the Nationalist Party. Campos fought for a free, sovereign, and independent republic and for his beliefs and outspoken courage he spent years in prison. In 1937, violence erupted at a Nationalist Party rally that is remembered today as the Ponce Massacre.

In the 1940’s, life in Puerto Rico began to improve as Luis Munoz Marin became the first elected governor of the island in 1948. In 1951 Munoz created the commonwealth status for Puerto Rico called Estado Libre Asociado, or free associated state. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and Puerto Rico has a Resident Commissioner who speaks in the U.S. House of Representatives, but who cannot vote. The people of Puerto Rico do not pay taxes and cannot vote for president.

In 1952 Puerto Rico’s constitution was drafted. The governor and legislature are elected for 4-year terms. The legislature has an Upper House or Senate, and a House of Representatives.

On the political side, the New Progressive Party supports statehood, while the Popular Democratic Party backs the current commonwealth status, and the Puerto Rico Independence Party wants to make the island an independent republic and today there is still controversy over the island’s status. Public votes in 1967 and 1993 confirmed that the majority of voters favored commonwealth status and the voters later rejected statehood in a vote in 1998.

Today a hot topic is the repeal of Tax Code 936, which gives mainland U.S. companies huge tax breaks if they invest in and establish companies in Puerto Rico. Added to this, the company’s profits are not taxed upon repatriation. Taking advantage of this break, many companies have set up shop in Puerto Rico. Many Puerto Ricans are worried what will happen if the tax code is repealed as it may increase the already high unemployment ratio.