Puerto Rico: The 51st State?

7/30/2019 Puerto Rico: The 51st State?

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Puerto Rico: The 51stState?

Johnny Gratton

Latin America and Caribbean HistorySpring 2013

The United States was built on the idea that the people decide the system

of government under which they will live. Having said that, if the U.S. truly is


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democratic than the commonwealth of Puerto Rico has the constitutional right to

determine its own future. For more than 100 years Puerto Rico has been a

territory of the United States and its head of state has been the U.S. President.

Puerto Ricans have also been granted United States citizenship with the

condition that they may not vote in the Presidential election. As United States

citizens, but also as a territory, Puerto Ricans have the legal right to decide for

themselves their own future; whether it is statehood, independence, or to remain

a commonwealth. The majority of scholars agree the that United States cannot

proceed in overseeing a territory where the citizens are required to abide by laws

created by a leader for which they are not allowed to vote, a sentiment echoed by

the people of Puerto Rico in their 2012 referendum.

Puerto Rico was a part of Spain for 400 years before it became a part of

the United States. The United States gained control of the country after defeating

the Spanish in the Spanish-American War in 1898.1 They also gained control of

Cuba and Spains Pacific territories. Puerto Rico however, is the only

commonwealth that remains in the possession of the United States. The terms of

the commonwealth have remained relatively unchanged since the 1950s. In

other words, as the economy and status of both countries have changed, the

commonwealth has remained the same and no adjustments have been made for

the people of Puerto Rico.

The main reason that the debate over this conflict is such a hot topic is

because it wasnt until November 2012 when officially more than half of the

1"Puerto Rico The 51st State?" The Economist. The Economist Newspaper Limite, 17 Nov. 2012.

Web. 22 Apr. 2013.


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population of Puerto Rico voted in favor of changing their current status as a

commonwealth. 54% of Puerto Rican citizens were in favor of eliminating the

commonwealth status from their country. 61% of the 54% who wanted change

were in favor of statehood.2 This statistic will spark even more debate and

possibly action in the next few years because the democratic beliefs of the

United States would be tested if a decision isnt made. In this November

referendum, there were also officially more Puerto Ricans living in the continental

United States than in Puerto Rico. 3 The referendum was for all citizens including

those living on U.S. soil. This is interesting to note because the majority of the

Puerto Ricans already living in the United States voted for statehood because

they have enjoyed living in the U.S. The Puerto Ricans who voted for statehood

who are living in Puerto Rico want nothing more than the opportunity to become

a full American.

Currently, the residents of Puerto Rico do not pay income taxes. However,

they are required to follow American law even though they are still unable to vote

for president or congress. Also, in 1967, there was a referendum about the status

of the country and 60% voted for the country to remain a commonwealth

because they were promised that it would be enhanced as time went on even

though it has not.4 They were promised that they would be able to keep

citizenship, tax exemptions and currency. They also had the right to control their

own immigration and trade. As for how it would be enhanced, they were told that

2"Puerto Rico The 51st State?"

3"Ibid.

4"Puerto Rico The 51st State?"


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as time went on, the commonwealth would get closer and closer to becoming

permanent.

Don Young is a Republican United States Representative from Alaska and

he has experience with territories becoming American states. He was a member

of the House of Representatives from 1966 to 1970 and a senator from 1970 to

1973. He believes that the Americans in Puerto Rico without a doubt have done

their part to become a state of the United States. He notes that Puerto Ricans

are extremely loyal and have fought with the United States armed forces for a

great deal of time. There are about 200,000 of the 4 million people in Puerto Rico

fighting in the armed forces in United States conflicts.5 He strongly favors

statehood simply because of this loyalty and patriotism shown by thousands of

Puerto Ricans. How can the United States ask for members of the Puerto Rican

army to fight U.S. wars without giving them the right to vote? It is a basic right to

fight for your country and a basic right to vote for your leaders.

Senator Young noted in his Congress write up that President Eisenhower

suggested at the end of his term as president that Congress should grant Puerto

Rico independence if they request it.6This was said in Eisenhowers 1953

speech to the United Nations. This is a concern because the United States

promised to change the status of Puerto Rico back then and nothing has been

changed since then. Also in agreement is former president George H.W. Bush,

who believes strongly in the Puerto Ricans to decide for themselves.

5Young, Don "Pro." Congressional Digest 77.5 (1998): 142. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web.7

Apr. 2013.

6Young, Page 143.


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Ive long believed that the people of Puerto Rico should have the right todetermine their own political future. Personally, I strongly favor statehood.But I urge the Congress to take the necessary steps to allow the people todecide in a referendum.7

Senator Young fully agrees with George W. Bush Sr. He strongly favors

statehood and believes that Congress should allow the people of Puerto Rico to

decide their own fate. The problem that Senator Young has with Congress is the

long process it takes to become a state. He explains that the vote would have to

go from Congress to Puerto Rico back and fourth a couple times over the course

of several years before even beginning a transitional period.8 The transition

period would then take several more years.

One of the main concerns in this debate over statehood is the issue of

language as part of the transition and switching the official language from

Spanish to English. Many critics are concerned with the fact that the educational

system will have to be rethought on how to transition from teaching language and

history of Puerto Rico to that of the United States. Since Senator Young is from

Alaska he knows the process of becoming a state. From his experience, he notes

that there were 52 different dialects when Alaska became a state.9 It was not a

requirement for people to speak English and it naturally became the top

language over time. Also, Hawaii has two official languages as well as New

Mexico.10 What Senator Young is suggesting is that there is no need to force a

language upon Puerto Rico. The solution is to let them choose their own

language and not require anything. Gradually just from being a part of the United

7Ibid.

8Ibid.

9Young Page 143

10Ibid


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States the curriculums will change, the businesses will change and then

everyone will adapt. The languages will sort themselves out over time.

Young finishes his paper by saying that America is known for being a

melting pot. It is a place that has created its own identity through immigration.

There are hundreds of different languages spoken in the United States and many

people speak more than one language. He finally notes that being cohesive is

being American and that is the main reason for justifying statehood for Puerto

Rico.

Ruben Berrios Martinez is the head of the Puerto Rican Independence

Party and has been a Senator of Puerto Rico on three separate terms. He is a

firm believer that independence for Puerto Rico is the only option for their political

status. His philosophy is focused on how a country needs to pull themselves

together on their own and without the help of other countries. He believes that

Puerto Rico can pull itself out of poverty and put itself back on the map as a free

and sovereign nation.

Martinez believes that that the United States crippled the economy in

Puerto Rico by moving large-scale agriculture companies to the island.11 Before

the United States owned Puerto Rico, the economy was run by mostly small and

medium sized businesses. These businesses were completely run by Puerto

Ricans and the middle class was strong. When large American businesses

moved in, the Puerto Rican landowners couldnt compete and were forced off of

11Martinez, Ruben Berrios. "Independence For Puerto Rico: The Only Solution."

Foreign Affairs 55.2 (1977): 561. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 23 Apr.2013.


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their farms. The middle class Puerto Ricans were decimated economically and

as a result of that, the native economy collapsed.

When the Puerto Rico first became a commonwealth of the United States,

it was a strategic military asset because of its location in the Caribbean Sea. One

crucial naval and air force base called Roosevelt Roads was once a useful

military base to have. Martinez notes that one of the main reasons that it is not

important anymore is that with advances in planes and communications, there is

no further need for it.12 The US has outposts in several other local areas with the

main one being Guantanamo bay. He believes that the argument that says that

Puerto Rico is a valuable military location is flawed.

The main point that Martinez is trying to make is that the United States

has no intention of ever letting Puerto Rico become a state. He believes that the

United States only intention is to hold it as a colony because it shows that they

are powerful by still having a territory.13 The United States wants other countries

to know that they can take control of any country they want and occupy it for as

long as they want. In contrast, Bill McCollum has different beliefs about Puerto

Rico.

Bill McCollum was elected into the House of Representatives in 1980 and

he was a lawyer from 1973-1981. He shared his thoughts about Puerto Rico in a

House floor debate on March 4, 1998.14 He is a representative of Florida, a state

that has a close relationship with Puerto Rico because it is the closest state to

12Martinez. Pg 574

13Martinez. Pg 574

14McCollum, Bill "Pro." Congressional Digest 77.5 (1998):. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web.7

Apr. 2013. Page 152


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the island. He believes there really shouldnt be a debate at all. He thinks that

there is no doubt that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States. This is partially

because of a personal connection with the island as he has gotten to know many

Puerto Rican immigrants to Florida. However, this close relationship makes him

qualified to have a useful opinion on the topic.

McCollum believes that there is no doubt about how American the

Puerto Rican people are. They are simply citizens because there are no customs

or boundaries when traveling between countries. There is a bond between

Puerto Rico and Florida that makes the relationship so good. McCollum notes

that it is important to understand how the relationship between Puerto Ricans

and Americans is so valuable and Puerto Ricans have sacrificed a great for the

United States. Along with many other scholars and leaders, McCollum believes

that the Puerto Rican people should be given the opportunity to say yes to

statehood.

The United States has a tradition of assimilation. Immigrants have been

assimilated into the country for hundreds of years because that what makes

America a melting pot.15 However, Puerto Ricans are not immigrants. They are

citizens and no assimilation is needed. They have already been a part of our

nation as a commonwealth and a bond has been formed between the U.S. and

Puerto Rico. In agreement with Bill McCollum is Ronald Regan when he said this

during a Puerto Rican statehood debate in 1993:

My friends, as you consider weather or not you wish to continue being apart of the United States, I want you to know one thing: The United Stateswill welcome you with open arms. Weve always been a land of varied

15McCollum, Bill Page 153


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cultural backgrounds and origins, and we believe firmly that our strength isour diversity. There is much Puerto Rico can contribute to our Nation,which is why I personally favor statehood.16

Scholars, Presidents, Representatives and Senators from every corner of

the United States generally agree on one thing. They are not agreeing on a

specific solution such as statehood, commonwealth, or independence. They are

agreeing on the fact that Puerto Rico has earned the right over this past century

to decide their own future. They have earned the right to vote for the men and

women who make the daily decisions for their island. It is agreed that not only

should Puerto Rican opinion be taken into account when deciding the fate of the

island, Puerto Rican opinion should be the deciding factor in this 100 year long

debate.

16Ibid.


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Bibliography

Congressional Records

McCollum, Bill "Pro." Congressional Digest 77.5 (1998):. MAS Ultra - SchoolEdition. Web. 7 Apr. 2013. 152-154

Young, Don "Pro." Congressional Digest 77.5 (1998):. MAS Ultra - School Edition.Web. 7 Apr. 2013. 142-146

Scholarly Articles

Martinez, Ruben Berrios. "Independence For Puerto Rico: The Only Solution."Foreign Affairs 55.2 (1977): 561. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 23 Apr.2013.

Websites

"Puerto Rico The 51st State?" The Economist. The Economist Newspaper Limite,17 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.

Documents

Puerto Rico: The 51st State?