Canva Slides

What is Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and has been ever since 1898. A commonwealth is a political territory or community that is created for the people or the greater good. In terms of Puerto Rico, this means they are considered American citizens and have some of the benefits of some of the “fundamental rights” but not all

What can they do?

Puerto Rican citizens are entitled to things considered “Fundamental Rights” such as

- Is a US citizen
- Has to pay local, state, and income taxes
- Can vote in presidential primaries (Choosing candidates for the nominees for president of the US)
- Can serve in the US military
- Entitled to what is under the U.S. constitution (Freedom of speech, religion, etc)

What can they not do?

• Does not have to pay federal income taxes
• Cannot vote in general elections
• Lower funding for federal programs 
• Cannot vote for senators or representatives in the US Congress

Destruction from Before 

Before the US gained Puerto Rico, their former colonizers, the Spanish, had exploited the land as well. Vieques was used to grow sugar back when the indigenous people, the Taino, lived there. When the Spanish came, they began to ruin the land and destroy the beautiful land the Taino people worked hard to create. They were even used as slaves to tear apart their own land and hands away their resources to the Spanish. Luckily they were able to at least escape from one country’s form of abuse and misuse.

A 60 Year Takeover 

Since the 1940s, the United States Navy has been using Puerto Rican and, specifically the island Vieques, as a training ground for war. To replicate a battle type zone, they had to demolish the island in the process with the amount of bombs and other harmful weapons they used to create the war atmosphere. Lots of chemicals and munition were dumped in the area they used, further damaging the land.

The Aftermath

In 2003 of May, the US military ceded their usage of the island Vieques as a military training range. Though they stopped using it at the time, the effects of what they had done still continued to harm many. Things like napalm, depleted uranium, and toxic waste had already poisoned the land. In certain areas close to the parts that the US Navy used, citizens are not allowed to go because there are risks of setting off explosives. Many animals have disfigured bodies, the beaches are destroyed, and some plant struggle to grow all because of what they had done.

The Current State of the Military

Currently, Puerto Rico does not have an independent military but they do have National and State Guard. However, the most they can do is stick to natural disasters, civilian control, or internal defenses. If they were to be attacked by another country, the US would have to get involved, having their military come in and protect Puerto Rico under the US rule.

The Problem 

This may seem ideal for Puerto Rico, having someone to protect them in times of need. Nevertheless, people have to consider why they do not have a stable military for themselves in the first place. The fact that they have to rely on the US for military power makes them dependent upon them, straying from the idea of them ever gaining independence. Not allowing them to have more military control can shelter Puerto Rico’s ability to fight when needed. If the US continues this, then Puerto Rico will never have a need for a strong military and other things that could help them become more liberated.

Takeaway

Puerto Rico have been stripped of their ability to become independent and separate from the US. Islands have been destroyed decades ago and the land, the people, and the animals all face the lasting effects from was the US military had used it as. Even though the US claims that Puerto Rico is a territory under them for “the good of the people”, it seems as if they have done more harm than good for them.