|
.P
|
|
|
|
|
Prof. Felipe Pimentel
E-Mail: fpimente@hunter.cuny.edu
Puerto Rico: Basic Historical Chronology
Late Fifteenth Century (XV)
1493
Christopher Columbus discovered the island in his second voyage to the New World (Nov. 19). He found the island populated by as many as 60,000 Taino or Arawak Indians
Sixteenth Century (XVI)
1508
Spanish colonization begins. (Juan Ponce de Leon, first Spanish governor)
1513
First African Slaves were introduced into the island.
Eighteenth Century (XVIII)
1765
Lieutenant General Alexander O'Reilly conducted a census. Puerto Rico's population had reached 45,000.
Nineteenth Century (XIX)
1806
The printing press is brought to the island.
1812
Public lightning with olive oil lamps was established in the streets of San Juan. Cadiz Constitution was adopted, which granted Puerto Ricans conditional citizenship.
1815
The Royal Decree of Grace (commerce liberty) was expedited.
1849
The book "El Jibaro" by Manuel Alonso was published.
1867
Puerto Rico reached a population of 656,328; its population recorded as 346,437 whites and 309,891 "of color" (this category included blacks, mulattos and mestizos). The majority of Puerto Ricans lived in poverty. Agriculture, the main economic activity, was limited by lack of roads, rudimentary tools and equipment, and natural disasters, such as tropical hurricanes. While illiteracy was 83.7 percent, the intellectual minority remained relatively active within the limitations imposed by local Spanish authorities.
1868
23 September
Manuel Rojas organized the pro-independence revolt and pledged to create
the independent Republic of Puerto Rico as part of an uprising known as
the Grito de Lares ("The Cry of Lares"). His Hacienda
in the town of Lares became the headquarters for like-minded revolutionaries
who would push for a split from Spain. The Grito de Lares was encouraged
from his exile by Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827-1898) also known
as the "father" of the Puerto Rican nationhood.
1873
22 March
The Spanish Crown abolished slavery in Puerto Rico.
1887
Ramón Baldorioty de Castro formed the Autonomous Party that tried to create a political and legal identity for Puerto Rico while emulating Spain in all political matters.
1895
The Puerto Rican flag was first used on 22 December and adopted as a national symbol.
1897
The "Carta Autonómica" (chart for political autonomy) was approved in which Spain concedes political and administrative autonomy to the island. It allowed the island to retain its representation in the Spanish Cortes, and provided for a bicameral legislature. This legislature consisted of a Council of Administration with eight elected and seven appointed members, and a Chamber of Representatives with one member for every 25,000 inhabitants. (November 25)
1898
25 April
A formal declaration of war recognized between Spain and the United
States.
8 July
U.S. acquired Hawaii.
25 July
U.S. troops under the command of Gen. Nelson Miles disembarked in Guánica
on the southern coast of Puerto Rico.
29 September
Governor Macías officially announced that Puerto Rico had been
ceded to the United States.
10 December
The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War of 1898. As a result of this treaty, Spain lost the last of its empire in the New World. The United States was ceded Puerto Rico and Guam, liquidated its possessions in the West Indies, agreed to pay 20 million dollars for the Philippines, while Cuba became independent.
Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827-1898), the intellectual leader of the Puerto Rican pro-independence movement died in Paris, where he had been living in exile for several decades.
1899
Puerto Rico reached a population of 1,000,000 inhabitants.
Twentieth Century (XX)
1900
12 April
The U.S. Congress passed the Foraker Act, establishing a civilian government
in Puerto Rico under U.S. control. The Act provided for an elected House
of Representatives on the island, but not for a vote in Washington.
1904
Luis Muñoz Rivera and José de Diego founded the Unionist
Party of Puerto Rico to fight against the colonial government established
under the Foraker Act.
1912
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, Manuel Zeno Gandía, Luis Llorens
Torres, Eugenio Benítez Castaño, y Pedro Franceschi found
the Independence party which was the first party in the history of the
island to exclusively want Puerto Rican independence. Though short-lived,
it established a precedent for future organizations with similar ideologies.
1917
2 March
President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones Act. It gave Puerto Ricans
U.S. citizenship and a bill of rights and also established a locally elected
Senate and House of Representatives. However, the Foraker Act still determined
economic and fiscal aspects of government.
1922
In the case of Balzac v. Porto Rico, 258 U.S. 308, the U.S. Supreme
Court declared that Puerto Rico was a territory rather than a part of
the Union. The decision stated that the U.S. constitution did not apply
in Puerto Rico.
1930
Don Pedro Albizu Campos is elected president of the Nationalist Party.
1932
The Congress of United States approved a law to change back the name of the island Porto Rico, to its original name, Puerto Rico.
1934
Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the island.
1935
President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the Puerto Rican Reconstruction Administration, (PRERA) which provided for agricultural development, public works, and electrification of the island.
1937
At the beginning of "Nacionalista de Puerto Rico" party parade, in Ponce, occurred as called "Masacre de Ponce" were 20 people are killed and 100 people are killed and 100 wounded.
1938
The Democratic Popular Party (PPD) was founded, under the leadership of Luis Muñoz Marín.
1941
United States began to establishes military bases in the islands of Culebra and Vieques. Rexford Tugwell was assigned governor of Puerto Rico (1941-1946).
1945-47
Puerto Ricans began to emigrate to United States in relative large numbers.
1946
The Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) was organized
by a dissident group of former PPD leaders led by Gilberto Concepción
de Gracias. This is the principal pro-independence party in Puerto Rico
today.
1947
Operation Bootstraps is sponsored by the PPD in power (industrial modernization of the island)
1948
The first governor is elected by the Puerto Ricans. Luis Muñoz Marin is elected.
1950
Nationalist rebellion in Jayuya. Two nationalists tried to kill President Harry Truman in Washungton D.C.
1952
The flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was officially adopted - based on a flag designed by a group of patriots in the year 1895. The New Constitution is approved by voters, and Puerto Rico is proclaimed as Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (July 25)
1954
Nationalists open fire in the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five Congressmen.
1965
Don Pedro Albizu Campos leader of the Nationalist party dies.
1967
First plebiscite on the political status of Puerto Rico was held. Voters overwhelmingly (almost 60%) affirm continuation of Commonwealth status.
1968
Luis A. Ferré, leader of a prostatehood party, is elected governor.
The New Progressive Party (PNP) is founded.This is the main pro-statehood party in Puerto Rico.
1980
Luis Muñoz Marín founder of the PPD and first elected Governor of Puerto Rico dies.
1991
Puerto Rico declares Spanish the only official language of the island.
1993
The pro-statehood PNP (in power since January) approved the Law Number 1 of 1993 declares English and Spanish as the official languages of Puerto Rico.
In the Referendum, Commonwealth status
was reaffirmed by voters.
Statehood.......... 788,296 (46.3%)
Commonwealth....... 826,326 (48.6%)
Independence........ 75,620 ( 4.4%)
Nulls............... 10,748 ( 0.7%)
1997
U.S. Congress introduced Proyect Young, to provide a process leading
to full self-government for Puerto Rico. (introduced Feb. 27 by Rep. Don
Young, H.R.856)
1998
In a non-binding referendum, which offered Puerto Rican voters will have five choices, which included: (1) remaining a U.S. commonwealth, (2) entering into a "free association" with the United States that would be somewhere between commonwealth and independence, (3) becoming a state, (4) declaring independence, and (5) or none of the above. The option 5 "none of the above" obtained the majority of votes. (December 13)
Option Votes
Percent
1 993 0.06%
2 4536 0.29%
3 728157 46.49%
4 39838 2.54%
5 787900 50.30%
Others 4846 0.31%