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Spanish flags first fly over puerto rico. Puerto Rico's colonization begins.

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the Taino revolted against the Spanish empire, which ended in their (Taino) defeat

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Life for the Taino in this time was less than pleasant. European diseases spread like wildfire through the Taino civilization. Illness that Spanish colonizers brought in from Europe. The Spanish were already immune.

The Taino went through poverty, heavy taxation, and overall repression

the Spanish tried to Christianize the Taino out of their unique polytheistic Aztec-inspired religion

The Europeans brought their Spanish language with them and soon everyone in Puerto Rico was speaking it rather than their native tongue.

The Spanish enslaved the Taino. No freedom, choice, or rights for the Indigenous.

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Queen María Christina of the Two Sicilies began the ending of Taino slavery

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Slavery abolishment finally showed a dent in Puerto Rico's population with 175,791 freed.

Puerto Rico's population in 1845 according to (https://welcome.topuertorico.org/history3.shtml)

White........................... 216,083

Freed.....................175,791

Slaves............................ 51,265

Total............................ 443,139

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For a whole 24 hours, the castle was held by Puerto Rican rebels, a significant, and symbolic scramble for freedom and pride.

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1868, in lares, pro-independence Puerto Ricans started a mini-revolution. In the end, the Spanish managed to quiet down and detain them, but this marked another turning point for Puerto Rican independence.

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The Spanish monarchy, where the crown would appoint governors for Puerto Rico, ended. Being replaced by a republican government structure.

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During the Spanish-American war, the United States invaded Puerto Rico.

and eventually...

they won, taking full control and rule of Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico started gaining more independence from America. but despite this, the quality of life wasn't all too good. The American military governed the land, as they had been the ones to take over. The government had little to no regard for Puerto Rico's cultural or economical development.

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By 1920, Puerto Rico's citizens were divided. There were the nationalists of PR, who wanted independence. Then there were the socialists (led by Santiago Iglesias) who wanted to stay under the US’ rule.

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Puerto Rico gained its common-wealth status. which essentially means that Puerto Rican citizens have to abide by all the United States' laws and taxation. They are also ruled by the President of the United States, but they aren't allowed to vote. They have smaller governors, similar to a U.S. state, which they can vote for.

According to the library of congress, this means that 'the 78 municipalities’ governments are made up of two branches, the legislative and the executive. (Municipal Code, art. 1.006) The municipal legislature is vested with powers similar to those of the P.R. legislative branch. However, in contrast with the P.R. legislature, the municipal legislature is unicameral. (Art. 1.020) The number of its members is proportional to the total population of each city. Members of the city council are delegated the task of discussing public affairs and have special responsibility for monitoring and controlling the activities of the municipal executive branch and mayor. (Art. 1.039). Mayors in Puerto Rico must organize, direct, and supervise all the  daily municipal administrative activities. They prepare the municipality’s general budget and hire professional, technical, and consulting services as necessary. Mayors also supervise, manage, and authorize the disbursement of funds (state and federal) received by the municipalit

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By 1951, mostly everyone in Puerto Rico agreed on the commonwealth status, letting go of the Nationalist V.S Socialist social war.

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Puerto Rico shifted from an agricultural economy to being mainly based on industrial production.