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Chronology: The Status of Puerto Rico [Report]
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7346979
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Chronology: The Status of Puerto Rico [Report]
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[1-14-77]
CHRONOLOGY: The Status of Puerto Rico
1897
Spain, after treating Puerto Rico for almost 400 years as a
Spanish colony, grants autonomy to Puerto Rico.
1898
On July 25, 1898, three months after the start of the Spanish
American War, 16,000 U.S. troops began landing on Puerto
Rico's south coast. In 17 days, the island is captured, and
the U.S. imposes a military government.
1900
President McKinley urges Governor Allen, the first civilian
Governor appointed by the U.S., to prepare the people of
Puerto Rico for statehood as soon as possible.
1900
Congress enacts the Foraker Act making Puerto Rico a U.S.
territory. The Act also provides that the U.S. will appoint
the Governor and major officials for Puerto Rico. The
people of Puerto Rico are to have a Resident Commissioner to
represent them in the House of Representatives, but he will
have no vote.
1904
A new Union Party takes power in Puerto Rico on a political
platform that proposes Puerto Rico either be a state, in-
dependent, or home self rule under the U.S. flag.
1909
President Taft says that the U.S. has moved "too fast in the
extension of political power to (the Puerto Ricans) for
their own good."
1910
The House of Representatives passes a bill to grant U.S.
citizenship to individual Puerto Ricans who apply for it.
The Senate fails to act.
1912
President Taft proposes that the U.S. grant American citizen-
ship to the people of Puerto Rico. He rejects the idea of
statehood.
Digitized from Box 35 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
1913
President Wilson announces he favors citizenship and home
rule for Puerto Rico.
1917
Congress passes the Jones Act granting citizenship to the
people of Puerto Rico. The leading political party, the
Unionists, drop statehood as an objective and call for
independence.
1919
The legislature of Puerto Rico asks Congress to permit a
referendum on status. Congress takes no action. Repre-
sentative Joe Cannon tells the Puerto Rico legislature to
stop worrying about statehood or independence: "You will
get either or both just as soon as you are ready."
1920
Warren Harding opposes independence for Puerto Rico.
1922
The Union Party proposes a new status, the Free Associated
State, imitative of the Irish free state.
1928
Puerto Rico sends a petition, through Charles Lindbergh, to
President Coolidge, asking for greater freedom. President
Coolidge replies that Puerto Rico is not prepared to exercise
greater power of government.
1931
President Hoover says Puerto Rican independence movement has
collapsed.
1934
President Roosevelt, in a visit to the island, promises
economic "reconstruction at the earliest possible moment."
-3-
1935
Senator Tydings proposes that Puerto Rico be given indepen-
dence "if the people seriously desire it." The majority
political party, a pro statehood coalition, renews its
demands for statehood.
1943
President Roosevelt recommends that Congress permit the
people of Puerto Rico to elect their own Governor. Congress
does not act.
1945
President Truman asks Congress to permit a referendum in
Puerto Rico on the status question. Congress does not act.
1947
President Truman signs into law the Crawford-Butler Act
permitting Puerto Rico to become the first territory in the
U.S. history to elect its own governor.
1948
President Truman urges, in a message to Congress, that the
people of Puerto Rico be allowed to choose their own form of
government in a referendum.
1950
Congress enacts Public Law 600, granting Puerto Rico the
right to adopt its own constitution.
1952
Puerto Rico becomes a Commonwealth.
1953
In response to a United Nations debate on Puerto Rican
status, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge said that President
Eisenhower had authorized him to say that if Puerto Rico
wants independence, the President would recommend it to the
Congress.
-4- -
1962
President Kennedy agrees to Governor Munoz' request for a
new referendum on status.
1964
Congress creates a Commission to study the Status of Puerto
Rico.
1966
The Status Commission concludes that the people of Puerto
Rico should choose either Commonwealth, statehood, or indepen-
dence.
1967
The people of Puerto Rico vote 60% for Commonwealth, 39% for
statehood, and .6% for independence.
1967
HR 9691, proposing statehood for Puerto Rico is introduced
in Congress.
1969
HR 499 and HR 2699, both proposing statehood for Puerto
Rico, are introduced in Congress.
1973
President Nixon and Governor Hernandez Colon create the Ad
Hoc Advisory Group on Puerto Rico.
1975
On October 9, 1975, the Ad Hoc Advisory group proposes the
"Compact of Permanent Union between Puerto Rico and the
U.S."
1976
On December 31, 1976, President Ford proposes statehood for
Puerto Rico.
PUERTO RICO
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS
COMMONWEALTH
STATEHOOD
INDEPENDENCE
1952
64.8
Luis Munoz Marin
12.9
19.0
1956
62.5
Luis Munoz Marin
25.0
12.5
1960
58.2
Luis Munoz Marin
32.1
3.1
1964
59.3
Roberto Sanchez-Vilella
34.7
2.8
1968
42.0
44.6 Luis Ferre
2.8
1972
51.2
Rafael Hernandez-Colon
44.0
4.8
1976
45.0
48.0
Carlos Romero-
6.0
Barcelo
Sources: Figures from 1952 to 1964 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Board of Elections:
"Statistics of the General Elections: 1960" San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1962
and "Totales; Total de Electores en Listas y El Voto Para Gobernador: 1964."
Quoted in Status of Puerto Rico, Report of the United States - Puerto Rico
Commission of the Status of Puerto Rico. August 1966, p. 186.
Figures for 1968 are from The Stateman's Yearbook, 1969-1970, New York,
p. 703 and the figures for 1972 are from The Stateman's Yearbook, 1973-1974,
New York, p. 722.
Figure for 1976 is from El Mundo, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 31, 1976.
OTING TRENDS IN PUERTO
ICO
100
95
FIGURES FROM 1952 TO 1964 FROM COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO,
90
BOARD DE ELECTIONS: STATISTICS OF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS: 1960" SAN
JUAN, PUERTO RICO, 1962 AND "TOTALES; TOTAL de ELECTORES en LISTAS
y EL VOTO PARA GOBERNADOR: 1964." QUOTED IN STATUS OF PUERTO
RICO, REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES PUERTO RICO COMMISSION OF THE
85
STATUS OF PUERTO RICO. AUGUST 1966, P. 186.
FIGURES FOR 1968 ARE FROM THE STATEMAN s YEARBOOK, 1969-
80
1970, NEW YORK, P. 703 AND THE FIGURES FOR 1972 ARE FROM THE
STATESMAN'S YEARBOOK, 1973- 1974, NEW YORK, P. 722.
75
FIGURE FOR 1976 IS ROM EL MUNDO, SAN UAN, PUERTO RICO,
DECEMBER 31, 1976.
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
52
56
60
64
68
72
76
STATEHOOD
COMMONWEALTH
INDEPENDENCE