HISTORY | puertorico2013

Taíno

The indigenous population of Puerto Rico was the Taíno. They were an Arawakan-speaking people, gentle, friendly and with a highly organized society.

While there are still a few people left who claim to be Taíno, most of the population claims to be Boricua (please see our Culture page for more info).

Spanish Colonization

Spanish colonists, in particular, Juan Ponce de Leon, pushed the Taíno people to the brink of extinction. Those Taíno not killed by Spanish soldiers were captured as slaves. Slavery did not suit the Taíno, and the population quickly dwindled.

The influx of slaves from Africa quickly filled the gap left by the decimated Taíno, and the riches of the new world flowed quickly to Spain. Puerto Rico was attacked by numerous other colonizing nations, leading to the construction of El Morro de Felipe in Old San Juan (see the National Parks page for more info on El Morro).

Puerto Rico was also deeply involved in the piracy that flourished in the Caribbean, both fighting it and engaging in it.

American Occupation

The USA invaded Puerto Rico in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico fell with little resistance and Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines were ceded to the US as part of the Treaty of Paris.

The military government lasted a mere two years. By 1900 Puerto Rico was again ruled by a civil government, albeit one appointed by the US president. By 1917 Puerto Rico became self-governing, with the caveats that the President appointed the governor and the US government could veto any Puerto Rican law.

Puertorriqueños

Again, we don’t have the time or space to tell in full all the stories of the amazing people of Puerto Rico, but we would like to highlight a few folks whose stories we learned while on the island.

Carlos Manuel Rodriguez is the first Puerto Rican beautified by the Catholic Church. His remains are interred in the cathedral in Caguas.

The 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, is a US Army regiment that earned its nickname on the long sea voyage to Pusan, Korea (Boriquen+Buccaneer=Borinqueneers).

Adolfina Villanueva Osorio is a woman who was killed, allegedly by the police, for defying an eviction order and has become a folk hero for Puerto Ricans everywhere.