Puerto Rico Pros And Cons Essay

In 1493, Columbus founded the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico was finally named this in 1520 after is was named San Juan Bautista by the first settler in 1509 named Juan Ponce de Leon. Puerto Rico started to evolve and in the late 1800’s the first form of government was put to power and abolished slavery. In 1898 the Spanish- American War occurred, in which the U.S. wins Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and others from Spain under the Treaty of Paris. The Organic Act of 1900 was approved, which established the civil government and free commerce between Puerto Rico and the United States. Puerto Rico received U.S. citizenship in 1917 and finally became a commonwealth in 1952. Puerto Rico is fully supported by the U.S. but the people do not have the same rights as the people from America, such as the voting right but they are allowed to fight in the U.S. military.

Some of the pros of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state are that it would improve the quality of life for Puerto Ricans, most of them live under the

State are cultural lose, Puerto Ricans would eventually lose their culture. Their language and many other aspects to the U.S. culture. Many of them are worried about their heritage being lost to the U.S. More cons would be that Puerto Rico would feel like they have lost their independence, and they would lose tourism because the novelty would wear off due to becoming a state. Puerto Rico becoming could raise the crime rate because the unemployment is so low in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico would also lose their identity for their olympics team and miss universe. The United States flag would change. Those are just few of the cons of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state.

In conclusion I think that Puerto Rico could have a positive effect on the U.S. in many ways, such as the pros listed above. I do believe that Puerto Rico becoming a state could hurt the U.S. in many ways also, it would also hurt them in many ways as