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The flag was created in 1895, by the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, which advocated independence for Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spanish rule. Its design is the same as the Cuban flag, but with the colors inverted.

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Project MUSE – Haciendo Patria: The Puerto Rican Flag in the Art of Juan Sánchez

Puerto Rico is an island adrift in the predominantly postcolonial Caribbean sphere that is its topographic equivalent. Lying between the North Americas and the Nuestras Américas, Puerto Rico epitomizes the historical reality of a “divided nation”: nearly one-half of the Puerto Rican population lives on the US mainland.¹ Some scholars have used the phrases “commuter nation” and “translocal nation” to illuminate the transit of bodies on flights between San Juan and cities such as New York, Miami, and Chicago.² These terms—divided nation, commuter nation, translocal nation—affix paradigms of nationality, albeit a transitory nationality, onto the people of this nonsovereign nation. Puerto Rican nationality is thus rendered vis-à-vis the dynamics of Puerto Rican migration and, specifically, migration to the US mainland. As such, Puerto Rican nationality and nationalism operate in relational modes that emphasize the self-positioning and [End Page 61] the multiple locations of the Puerto Rican subject within the diaspora. Migratory flow, then, functions as the definitive narrative of nation. As the anthropologist Jorge Duany notes in the title of his 2002 book, Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans are a “nation on the move.”³

Just as discussions of the national question are part of daily life on the island, expressions of nationalism are de rigueur in mainland Puerto Rican communities. In New York City, for example, the omnipresence of the Puerto Rican flag is striking given the city’s infinitely international population. Puerto Rican flags decorate apartment windows in Brooklyn, hang from car rearview mirrors in Queens, cling to backpacks in the Bronx, and flash on tattooed bodies striding down Fifth Avenue during the annual Puerto Rican Day parade. The flag miniatures are vestiges of the national emblem that have been re-sourced from and reinserted into the city’s landscape; they give viewing pleasure to the urban dwellers and passersby, many of whom regard the flags as visual affirmations of cultural pride, if not physical demarcations of nation-space.

This essay considers the ways the placing of and playing with Puerto Rican flags constitutes a visual praxis of “haciendo patria”—a term loosely translated here to mean nation building.⁴ Amid the rhetoric of a transitory nationality, the planting of the flag signals Puerto Rican rootedness and belonging within mainland communities, even as it evokes emotional connections to an island past. For outside of the communal, diasporic spaces maintained by mainland Puerto Ricans, the nation’s past, present, and future is something of a void—or something avoided.

Haciendo Patria in the Diaspora

Puerto Rico, the shining star, the great lap dog of the Caribbean.

—Abraham Rodriguez, “The Boy Without a Flag”

A former Spanish colony, Puerto Rico became a protectorate of the United States of America in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. In 1917, under the Jones Act, Puerto Ricans on the island were granted US citizenship. Citizenship allowed Puerto [End Page 62] Ricans to enlist in the US Army—a boon in 1917, as the United States entered World War I.⁵ In 1952, under the leadership of Luis Muñoz Marin and his Popular Democratic Party (Partido Popular Democrático), Puerto Rico became a “free associated state” (Estado Libre Asociado). As a commonwealth of the United States but not a state, Puerto Rico receives limited benefits in the form of federal assistance from its so-called free association.⁶ In contrast to the neighboring Caribbean islands that produced revolutions or affirmed themselves as republics or nation-states, Puerto Rico uses nonbinding polls, called plebiscites, to determine whether island residents prefer to pursue US statehood, independence, or maintain their commonwealth status. Since 1952 commonwealth supporters have outweighed the other groups, exposing the willingness of the Puerto Rican people to remain in between, to be “free” and “associated.”⁷

Indeed, Puerto Rico’s unique relationship with the United States, arguably a kind of exceptionalism, fuels the island’s exemption and…

Heraldic album. Sheet 25 | Publications

The oldest coat of arms of the Western Hemisphere

The island of Puerto Rico, washed from the south by the Caribbean Sea, and from the north by the Atlantic Ocean, has been a possession of the United States since 1898. In 1952, he achieved self-government, gaining the status of a “freely affiliated” state with the United States under the name “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.

The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, the day of St. John the Baptist, in Spanish San Juan Batista. This is exactly what Columbus called the spicy, and this name was retained until 1521. All subsequent Puerto Rican heraldic symbolism is associated precisely with John the Baptist, who is considered the patron saint of the island. nine0005

The Spanish conquest and colonization began in 1508, when Juan Ponce de Leon, a member of the Columbus expedition, arrived on the island with a small detachment and founded the first Spanish settlement on the shore of a convenient and picturesque bay, which was called “Puerto Rico” (“Rich Harbor” ). Already in 1511, the settlement received the status of a city; the coat of arms was immediately granted to it by the Spanish crown. It was the first coat of arms in the New World received by a colonial possession from the mother country. Eight years later, the capital of the island was moved to the newly created settlement of San Juan, and a few years later, not only the name of Puerto Rico, but also its coat of arms were extended to the entire island. This coat of arms, with minor changes made in 1898, 1905 and 1958, has survived to this day, and is the oldest of the active emblems of the Western Hemisphere.

In its modern form, it looks like this. On the central green field of the shield is a white lamb sitting on a church book (“the lamb of God”) with a halo above its head and a church cross banner. This image is an attribute of John the Baptist. The border of the shield is made up of emblems reminiscent of three hundred years of Spanish rule – four Castilian castles, four lions of Leon, four flags of the Aragonese-Sicilian kingdom (four red stripes on a yellow field – Aragon, and a combination of triangles of Aragonese colors with two black eagles on white – Sicily) . In addition, four Jerusalem crosses are depicted on the border, symbols of the Catholic religion dominating the island. nine0005

As a result of the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was captured by the United States, and the American authorities introduced a new colonial coat of arms in 1901. At the bottom of his shield is an island in the sea, over which the sun rises, and the upper part repeats the design of the American flag, against which the rod of Mercury was drawn surrounded by branches. The shield was surmounted by Columbus’ caravel and accompanied by the Latin motto “The color of prosperity rises”.

But already in 1905 the former, more popular coat of arms was restored. It was somewhat different from the original and current emblems. The lamb was without a halo and looked straight ahead, the cover of the book became red, and on the rim of the shield, instead of the Aragonese-Sicilian flags, the quadruple Castilian-Leonese flags were depicted, instead of the yellow Jerusalem crosses, the crosses of the Catholic monastic order of Saints John and Thomas. The emblem was crowned, accompanied by the Latin motto “His name is John” and framed by the crowned Latin initials of the Spanish royal couple of the late XV early XVI centuries, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile (under which the island was discovered and conquered by the Spaniards) and their personal emblems yoke and a bunch of arrows . nine0005

Since that time, the official seal of Puerto Rico has also existed. It basically repeats the design of the shield of the coat of arms of 1905, but has a round shape. Until 1958, the seal was sometimes used as a variant of the coat of arms.

In 1958, the coat of arms of Puerto Rico acquired a modern look, closer to the original version of 1511.
Puerto Rico’s first own flag was created in 1546 by its then Spanish governor, Diego Ramos, based on the colonial coat of arms, and was used for some time in the 16th century. Against the background of green and red horizontal stripes, surrounded by a yellow border, the same lamb with a banner (but without a book) and a Castilian castle. nine0005

Since 1845, when all Spanish provinces and colonies received special port flags, the local port flag of red and white horizontal stripes has been unofficially used as the flag of Puerto Rico.

In 1868, Puerto Rican patriots raised an anti-Spanish uprising and proclaimed a republic in the city of Lares. Her flag of blue and carmine-red horizontal stripes crossed by a white cross with a yellow star at the top became widely known. The uprising was put down. But the flag, called the “call from Lares” and inspired by the flag of the anti-Spanish uprising in Cuba and the flag of the Dominican Republic, has long been a symbol of the Puerto Rican liberation movement. At 189In 7 AD, Spain granted autonomy to Puerto Rico, and the red and white port flag became the official flag of the autonomous government. However, a few months later the Americans took over the country, canceling the local emblems.

The modern flag of Puerto Rico originated in 1895 as the flag of the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, which fought for the liberation from Spanish domination of both Cuba and Puerto Rico, and quickly gained popularity. It repeats the design of the Cuban flag, but has the reverse color of the triangle and colored stripes. The flag is unique in that its colors and elements do not have independent symbols, and therefore, as a national symbol, the flag is acceptable to almost all segments of the population, parties and movements. After the island was turned into American possession, the flag was banned by the colonialists, but its popularity was so great that already from 1916, its unofficial use was allowed. The only official flag in 1898-1952 was the flag of the United States, and in 1905-1948 the flag of the governor acted as a distinctive colonial flag, on the white panel of which the seal of the island was depicted. In 1952, the flag of 1895 was officially proclaimed the state and national flag of the Commonwealth Puerto Rico. But the dependent position of the country manifested itself here too – the flag can only be flown simultaneously with the US flag. Its symbolism is still not developed, but official propaganda emphasizes the coincidence of its colors with the colors of the US flag. nine0005

The struggle for the status of Puerto Rico continues. A certain part of the islanders is striving to turn the country into a US state. Their interests are represented by the state-republican party under the flag of blue, white and red horizontal stripes. The camp of supporters of independence is small and fragmented. Among them is the Communist Party, the flag of which repeats the design of the national flag, but, paradoxically, the red color has been eliminated from it. This is the only Communist Party flag in the world that does not have a face color. The majority of Puerto Ricans, participating in periodic referendums, support the idea of ​​maintaining the current status of the country. nine0005

Three arrows instead of thirteen

A group of islands in the West Indies, officially called the “United States Virgin Islands”, have the status of “US unincorporated territory”, that is, they are an American possession under the control of the US Department of the Interior. Since the 17th-18th centuries, these islands belong to Denmark. At first, the Danish national flag was used here, and in 1798 1842 a special colonial flag of the Danish West Indies: dark blue with a Danish flag in the roof. Then the islands came under the control and under the flag of the Danish West India Company. The company flag differed from the Danish one by adding a white square in the middle with the image of two crowned lions, two more crowns, the monogram of the Danish king who ruled at that time and the initials of the company name. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company returned its rights to the Danish government, which in 1917 sold the islands to the United States.

In 1921, the modern colonial flag was introduced, used only in conjunction with the US flag. On its white panel is an eagle, a modified and stylized version of the bald eagle from the American national emblem. The bird here is not natural in color, but yellow, its wings are more widely spread, the shield on the chest is of a different configuration, the olive branch is stylized and without berries, and the number of arrows is reduced from 13 to three. The letters on the sides of the eagle are the first letters of the English name of the islands. The eagle with the American shield symbolizes that the islands belong to the United States, the olive branch the peace and tranquility reigning on these tropical islands, and the desire for good neighborliness with other countries, and the three arrows are designed not only to designate the three main islands Santa Cruz, St. St. John, but also the determination of the locals to defend their rights to freedom, prosperity and … independence (which they never had). They never had an island and their own coat of arms. The only attempt at its creation dates back to the end of Dutch rule, when a coat of arms appeared depicting three islands in the sea, each of which had a palm tree and a Dutch flag, but it was not officially approved. From 1917, the only emblem of the islands is a colonial seal with a full image of the US coat of arms surrounded by a gold ring and the English inscription “Government of the United States Virgin Islands”. Thus, this American possession does not have its own original emblems.

Five Stars of Antilles

The islands of Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius and the southern part of the island of Saint Martin (the northern part belongs to France) located in the Caribbean Sea have been a Dutch possession since the 17th century. From 19For 54 years, they received the status of an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and are the colonial federation of the Netherlands Antilles. Until 1986, the federation also included the island of Aruba, which later received the status of a separate self-governing territory.

The modern flag of the Netherlands Antilles was adopted in 1986 and is only used in conjunction with the Dutch flag. The blue stripe represents the Caribbean Sea, and the white stars on it represent the five islands that make up the country, the top stars are Saba, St. Maarten and Sint Eustatius, the bottom stars are Curaçao and Bonaire. The red stripe symbolizes the unity of all the islands. The coincidence of the colors of the flag with the colors of the flag of the Netherlands is intended to emphasize the connection of the country with the mother country. At 1959 1985, the flag also had a sixth star, denoting Aruba.

The first coat of arms of the Netherlands Antilles was adopted in 1964, and since 1986, the sixth star has been removed from it, as well as from the flag. The stars, like those on the flag, symbolize the islands of the federation. The royal crown means that the Antilles remain an integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Latin motto “United by freedom” expresses the idea of ​​the unity of the constituent parts of the country and their independence in internal affairs.
Each of the islands of the federation has broad self-government, and each of them, except Sint Eustatius, has its own territorial flag and coat of arms. nine0005

Flag of Curaçao adopted in 1984. Its upper blue stripe symbolizes the sky, the lower blue stripe symbolizes the Caribbean Sea. The blue color also means the loyalty of the people to their native land. The lemon yellow stripe is the radiance of the tropical sun over the island, its picturesque nature and the cheerful character of the islanders. Two white stars are symbols of peace and happiness. Sometimes the stars are unofficially considered to represent the island of Curacao and the nearby small uninhabited Lesser Curacao.

The coat of arms of Curaçao is topped with a crown, a symbol of belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The central shield is a slightly modified coat of arms of the Dutch city of Amsterdam, on which the white color of St. Andrew’s crosses is replaced by blue. It commemorates that the island was colonized by the Dutch West India Company, established in Amsterdam, and symbolizes the island’s historical ties to the Netherlands. The sailing ship, sailing on the waves of the sea, personifies the importance of the sea and navigation for Curacao in the past, present and future. The blue color of the lower part of the left half of the shield not only denotes the Caribbean Sea, but also symbolizes the fidelity of the inhabitants of the island to the traditions of honesty, accuracy, diligence, ingenuity and love for their native land. The fruit tree depicted on the right side of the shield is laraha, a local representative of citrus fruits grown here for export. The famous Curacao liqueur is also made from their peel. This tree and its golden fruits symbolize the fertile soils and natural wealth of the island. The green color of the lower part of this half of the shield has the same symbolism. nine0005

Bonaire has its own flag since 1981. It was created on a competitive basis. The blue part of its cloth means the Caribbean Sea, the yellow triangle the sun, the vitality, development and prosperity of the island, the white stripe freedom and peace. The compass-like wind rose indicates that its inhabitants have long had a reputation for being the most skilled sailors in the southern Caribbean and are well versed in the maritime space. It also symbolizes the unity of purpose of the islanders. The star denotes the militancy and resilience of the locals, and its red color is a symbol of the blood shed in the struggle for survival and the determination of the islanders to withstand the harsh struggle against nature. The six ends of the star are reminiscent of the six villages, the first settlements on the island. nine0005

Bonaire’s coat of arms was created on the basis of the flag in 1986. The symbolism of its colors and elements coincides with the flag. The helm emphasizes the important role of the sea and navigation in the life of the island, and the royal crown recalls the sovereignty of the Netherlands.

The island of Saba adopted the flag and coat of arms in 1985, also as a result of a competition held among the population. The combination of red, white and blue on the flag commemorates historical and political ties to the Netherlands and the federation of the Netherlands Antilles. In addition, the red color symbolizes the unity, courage and determination of the local people, while the blue color symbolizes the Caribbean Sea. The star stands for the island of Saba, and its yellow color represents the natural beauty and wealth of the island, as well as how dear and sweet it is to the heart of every islander. nine0005

The coat of arms depicts the mountainous silhouette of the island, against which a cloud floats, as well as a sailing ship and fish symbols of the significance of the Caribbean in the life of the islanders. At the bottom of the shield is a potato tuber. The leaves of another important food crop, sab cabbage, famous throughout the West Indies, frame the coat of arms. The coat of arms is crowned with the head of the petrel Audubon. This local bird is considered the personification of mystery, loneliness and an unpredictable future, characteristic, according to the authors of the coat of arms, for the fate of the island of Saba itself, and also symbolizes the role of the sea in the life of the islanders, bringing them prosperity (fishing) and misfortune (devastating typhoons). On the ribbon under the shield is the Latin motto “By oars and sails”, reminiscent of the fact that the island was discovered in calm weather, and sailing ships had to approach it on oars. Allegorically, it expresses the will of the islanders to make progress by all means. nine0005

Since 1982 and 1985, the Dutch part of St. Maarten has also had its coat of arms and flag. The blue color of the coat of arms symbolizes the Caribbean Sea, and its orange border the royal Orange dynasty ruling in the Netherlands. The shield depicts the building of the local court a symbol of power and justice, a bouquet of flowering sage branches grown here for export, and a monument to Dutch-French friendship, erected on the border between the two parts of the island, meaning ties and cooperation between them. The silhouette of a brown pelican crowning the coat of arms, typical of the local fauna, flying against the background of the rising sun, personifies the nature of the island and hope for its bright future. The Latin motto means “Always going forward.” The coat of arms of Saint Maarten is also featured on its flag, which is similar in design to the flag of the Philippines and whose colors emphasize historical and political ties to the Netherlands. nine0005

Another semi-official coat of arms is also popular on the island, symbolizing the unity of Saint-Martin, despite its belonging to two colonial powers. Its black shield features the crossed flags of the Netherlands Antilles and France, above which the Dutch name of the island is inscribed in red letters.

Each of the island flags is used only together with the flags of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles.

Although the islands enjoy wide autonomy, there are also separatist movements on them, striving either for the complete independence of their island, or for its separate status. nine0005

Since 1974, the separatists of St. Maarten have used a flag of blue, white and blue horizontal stripes, on the white stripe of which are arranged in three rows (5, 7 and 5) seventeen red four-pointed stars. The symbolism of the flag is unknown, and its colors correspond to the colors of the flags of the Netherlands and France.

Flag Day Aruba holiday

The island of Aruba in the southern Caribbean Sea has been a possession of the Netherlands since the 17th century.In 1986 he achieved the separate status of a self-governing territory of the Netherlands. The coat of arms of Aruba was adopted in 1955. Its shield is divided into 4 parts by a cross signifying the Christian religion of its inhabitants. The white color of the cross is a symbol of piety. The first field of the shield shows a native aloe plant on a blue field. The blue color is intended to symbolize justice, strength, resilience and love for the homeland of the islanders and their long journey to independence.

The aloe depicted on the coat of arms is not a tree familiar to our apartments, but a herbaceous perennial Aloe Barbados, a plant almost a meter high. Introduced by the Spaniards back in the 16th century from the Mediterranean to the West Indies, this type of aloe has spread widely in the Caribbean, including Aruba. Its beautiful yellow flowers adorn Aruba all year round. Poverty soils and scarcity of fresh water limit the possibilities of local agriculture, and the unpretentious aloe has become its main crop grown for export. The juice and pulp of aloe leaves are used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and the plant itself is considered the national symbol of Aruba. nine0005

In the second field of the shield above the blue and white waves rises the green mountainous silhouette of the island on the yellow field. The yellow color of the field symbolizes the sunny tropical climate of Aruba, and the image itself represents the island of Aruba, rising above the waters of the Caribbean Sea. At the same time, the coat of arms depicts a very specific silhouette of the most popular Mount Hooiberg in Aruba. The lonely island symbolizes both the geographical position of Aruba, remote from other islands of the Netherlands Antilles by large sea spaces, and the identity of Aruba, and the long-standing desire of its inhabitants for a separate status. The green color of the island is considered a symbol of the joy of the Arubans about their achievement of autonomy. nine0005

The yellow background of the third field depicts two red hands shaking hands. They symbolize the unity and cooperation of all national and linguistic groups living in Aruba, their friendliness and affability, which are considered the defining features of the national character, and their peaceful attitude towards the rest of the world. The hands also signify Aruba’s constitutional ties to the Netherlands and economic ties to neighboring countries. It is also believed that they symbolize the name of the island: the most popular version explaining the origin of the name connects it with the Indian word “airubae”, which in the language of the original inhabitants of Aruba Arawak means “comrade, friend”. The red color of the hands means generosity, modesty, courage and diligence of the islanders. nine0005

In the fourth field of the shield, a white gear on a red background, symbolizes Aruba’s industry and mining. White color is considered a symbol of skill, constancy and justice, and red diligence and courage. In the past, gold mining was developed here, from which only depleted and abandoned mines remained, and in the 20th century, the basis of the economy was the processing of Venezuelan and American oil. However, with the closure of the American refinery in 1985, Aruba’s industry and finances were undermined. Small food and ship repair enterprises do not play a significant role in the economy. Therefore, in recent years, the emblem in the fourth field has been increasingly interpreted as a nautical helm and interpreted as a symbol of maritime transport and foreign tourism, which is playing an increasingly important role in the economy of Aruba. nine0005

The lion above the shield, the national symbol of the Netherlands, represents Aruba’s historical and modern ties to the mother country, and its red color symbolizes strength and generosity. Laurel branches framing the shield are a symbol of peace, friendship and success.

The flag of Aruba was adopted much later, in 1976, two years after the victory in the elections to the then island council of the separatist party Electoral Movement of the People, which later led Aruba to independent status. The light blue color of the cloth means heaven, as well as hope and faith. Four-pointed star an island in the middle of the sea, inhabited by people from all four corners of the world, constituting a single whole and friendly to the whole outside world. The Four Points of a Star The four main languages ​​spoken on the island are Papiamento Creole, Dutch, Spanish and English. The red color of the stars symbolizes the past of Aruba the Arawak Indians who once lived here and the earlier developed pottery and purple paint production. The white border around the star is the sandy beaches surrounding the island. The yellow stripes crossing the flag signify the economic and natural wealth of the island and symbolize: the upper one is the sun and tourism, and the lower one is the cultivation of aloe and the mining of gold and phosphates developed in the past. The stripes also symbolize the separation of Aruba from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles, its special status (and previously denoted the desire for it). At the same time, it is emphasized that this does not mean isolation of the island from other countries and peoples. nine0005

The colors of the flags of Aruba’s political parties have also influenced the choice of colors for the territorial flag. The yellow color combined with the red is taken from the flag of the ruling party Electoral Movement of the People, where the red map of the island with the red bird of liberty flying up from it is depicted on the yellow panel. Red is also the party color of the Aruba Patriot Party, which ruled the island until 1974. At the same time, the combination of blue, white and red, characteristic of the Dutch flag, emphasizes Aruba’s belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its close ties with the mother country. nine0005

Interestingly, the main national holiday of Aruba is March 18, Flag Day. It was on this day in 1976 that it was first solemnly raised in the presence of thousands of islanders at the Queen Wilhelmina Stadium in Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba.

Coats of arms and seals:

will another star appear on the US flag

Only 23% of voters came to vote in Puerto Rico to join the US (pixabay. com)
nine0005

Author:
Yuri Matsarsky

The citizens of Puerto Rico, in a referendum held on June 12, decided to ask the US Congress to make their country the 51st US state. Now the island of Puerto Rico is a freely associated state with the United States. In practice, Puerto Rico is actually under the control of the American authorities. The turnout in the referendum was low – 23%, 97% of the voters who came to the polls were in favor of joining the United States. However, the results of the referendum do not oblige the Puerto Rican authorities to launch the accession procedure, which has yet to be approved by the US Congress. Details – in the material RBC-Ukraine. nine0090

Most of those who took part in the referendum on the status of Puerto Rico supported the inclusion of this territory in the United States.

More than 97% of the participants in the referendum on the status of Puerto Rico supported the idea of ​​joining the United States as a state. One and a half percent voted for full independence, and slightly more than a percent voted for maintaining the current status.

Which, by the way, is rather strange: this group of Caribbean islands, occupied by the Americans during the American-Spanish War at the very end of 19century, officially listed as an “unincorporated organized” territory, the supreme power over which is concentrated in the US Congress.

Washington governs Puerto Rico, the inhabitants of the island are US citizens, dollars are used for settlements there, but this land is not an inalienable American territory. There are also a number of other oddities. For example, Puerto Rican American citizens cannot elect the President of the United States – polling stations simply do not open on the islands.

Guam and the Virgin Islands, for example, now have the same status. But there, no one really objected to this state of affairs. But in Puerto Rico, supporters of the idea of ​​getting rid of Washington’s tutelage have long been active. Back at 19In 14, local deputies voted unanimously for independence from the United States, but their opinion was ignored in Washington.

For decades, Puerto Rican politicians have collected votes and rallies in support of the idea of ​​their own statehood, while the Americans, at best, ignored all this, at worst, violently dispersed the demonstrations and sent their inspirers to prison.

By the end of the forties the situation was tense to the limit. And in November 1950, Puerto Rican independence fighters staged an assassination attempt on President Harry Truman. The President did not suffer then, but decided not to take any more risks and gave the Puerto Ricans the opportunity to develop and adopt their own constitution. nine0005

It is worth noting here that the support for the idea of ​​independence for Puerto Rico was not popular at all. In the very first referendum on the status of the territory, held in 1967, about 0.6% of voters spoke in favor of gaining their own statehood. The main struggle in all votings about the future of Puerto Rico flared up between supporters of full-fledged entry into the United States and those who are satisfied with the status of an unincorporated territory.

In the penultimate such vote in 2012, more than 60% of those in favor of statehood turned out to be. The then President of the United States, Barack Obama, said that he would support any position of the people of Puerto Rico, if it was really the choice of the majority of the inhabitants. But then a lot of complaints arose about the course of voting and the counting of votes. nine0005

As a result, the referendum, which was attended by 79% of voters, had no legal consequences. As, incidentally, the three previous votes, which also recorded a high turnout. Over the past half century, every generation of Puerto Ricans has had the opportunity to vote in a referendum on the status of their homeland, but this has had no legal consequences.

It seems that the current referendum will not have an impact on the future fate of Puerto Rico, despite the loud statements of politicians. nine0005

– The American citizens of Puerto Rico have made their choice… The United States must abide by the decision of our people, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said at a post-referendum rally.

True, he decided not to remember about the boycott that the opposition parties announced to the referendum, urging the voter not to go to the polling stations. The turnout as a result was only 23% – an anti-record in the entire history of such voting.

Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Jennifer Gonzalez, didn’t mention it either (by the way, she doesn’t have the right to vote when passing bills – another feature of the special status of an unincorporated territory). She has already taken on a bill to make Puerto Rico 51st-state, which seems to stand no chance of success. nine0005

Congressmen have gone to great lengths in ignoring the results of the Puerto Rican referenda. Each or almost each of them will be able to name a dozen reasons why now is not the time to decide on the status of the territory.

Ranging from the language barrier between the Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans and the English-speaking majority of the population of the states, and ending with the economic gulf that separates the metropolis and the colony. It was a colony, since the very status of an unincorporated territory was introduced to designate the colonial possessions of the United States, and the official name of the current referendum was “Voting for the immediate decolonization of Puerto Rico.” nine0005

But let’s return to the reasons for the refusal to admit a new state to the US. If the language problem is clearly far-fetched (there are now more Hispanic residents in the United States than in Spain itself and any other country in the world with the exception of Mexico), then the economic one is quite real. The average income of a Puerto Rican is half the wages in “big” America, a similar gap in labor productivity.

Puerto Rico also has the highest unemployment among all American territories, an incredible number of poor people and a monstrous debt. 74 billion dollars is a lot for a country with a population comparable to the number of residents of Kyiv and the nearest suburbs – three million seven hundred thousand people. The recognition of Puerto Rico as a new state would automatically place that debt on Washington. nine0005

But even if there were no economic problems, the Donald Trump administration is unlikely to decolonize Puerto Rico for purely political reasons. In elections in unincorporated territory, Democrats traditionally gain many times more votes than Republicans. And the current Republican administration does not need a state at all, which will most likely be represented in Congress by five Democrats at once, plus two more in the Senate.

Yes, and the Democrats are not eager to give the problem area the status of a State. Maybe they still remember how the territory of Alaska, which traditionally voted for them, became at 1959, a full-fledged state, changed her preferences to Republican. But, most likely, all the same economic problems are to blame.