History UsefulNotes / PuertoRico

Settled in 1508 by Juan Ponce de Leon, its first governor, Puerto Rico was ruled for most of its history by UsefulNotes/{{Spain}}, with the exact quality of said rule depending on the King (or later Queen) in power. The 19th century was an especially troubled time, with several succeeding monarchs and their Prime Ministers allowing reforms, only to later rescind them and later reinstate them. One high point came when [[AwesomeMcCoolName Ramon Power]], a Puerto Rican officer in the Spanish Navy descended from Irish immigrants, served as vice-president of the Spanish ''Cortes'' (equivalent to Parliament) during the Napoleonic Wars.

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature ([[Creator/RosarioFerre Rosario Ferré]], Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all. The Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class.

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature ({{Creator/RosarioFerre Rosario Ferré}}, Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all. The Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class.

!!Puerto Rico in the media:

[[folder:ComicBook]]
* ''ComicBook/LaBorinquena''
* ''ComicBook/PuertoRicoStrong''- a 2018 anthology of comics themed around Hurricane Maria.
[[/folder]]

* ''Film/WhatHappenedToSantiago'' -- the only Puerto Rican film to receive a nomination for the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestForeignLanguageFilm, and it always will be, as an Academy rule change in 2011 made films from American territories and commonwealths ineligible.
* ''Film/YoSoyTaino''

* ''Literature/NineteenEightyThreeDoomsday'': [[https://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Puerto_Rico_(1983%3A_Doomsday) Puerto Rico]] suffered one nuclear strike on the U.S. Navy base of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba; the rest of the island was spared. Six months later, Puerto Rico declared independence from the United States after contact with the Reagan administration was lost.
* ''Literature/EccentricNeighborhoods''

[[folder:Myth]]
* ''Myth/JuanBobo''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/NonPack''- set in Rich Port, a fictionalized WorldOfFunnyAnimals version of Puerto Rico.
[[/folder]]

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature (Rosario Ferre, Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all. The Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class.

* ''Literature/EccentricNeighborhoods

[[folder:ComicBook][[/folder]]

[[folder:Film][[/folder]]

* ''Film/LaHabanera'' -- made in UsefulNotes/NaziGermany of all places, actually shot in the Canary Islands.[[folder:Literature]][[/folder]]
* ''Literature/NineteenEightyThreeDoomsday'': [[https://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Puerto_Rico_(1983%3A_Doomsday) Puerto Rico]] suffered one nuclear strike on the U.S. Navy base of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba; the rest of the island was spared. Six months later, Puerto Rico declared independence from the United States after contact with the Reagan administration was lost.
* ''Literature/{{Invasion}}'': Puerto Rico fell the superior might of the Chinese military (which also took all of Asia and the Middle East) and came under occupation.

* ''Myth/JuanBobo''
* ''Webcomic/NonPack'' is set in Rich Port, a fictionalized WorldOfFunnyAnimals version of Puerto Rico.

* ''Film/RunnerRunner''
* ''VideoGame/SpiderManMilesMorales'' -- Takes place primarily in Harlem, New York. The protagonist, Miles Morales, is an Afro-Latino of Puerto Rican heritage: his mother, Rio, is a Puerto Rican running for Congress, and his father is a Black veteran. Puerto Rico imagery features strongly in the game, and the culture is displayed prominently.

* ''Literature/NineteenEightyThreeDoomsday'': [[https://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Puerto_Rico_(1983%3A_Doomsday) Puerto Rico]] suffered one nuclear strike on the U.S. Navy base of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba; the rest of the island was spared. Six months later, Puerto Rico declared independence from the United States after contact with the Reagan administration was lost.
* ''Film/{{Assassins}}''

* ''Film/LaHabanera'' -- made in UsefulNotes/NaziGermany of all places, actually shot in the Canary Islands.

* ''ComicBook/PuertoRicoStrong''

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature (Rosario Ferre, Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all. The Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The actual answer to this shall not be discussed here]].

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' PR

----

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/puerto_rico_flag_845.png

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature (Rosario Ferre, Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all. The Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment The actual answer to this shall not be discussed here]].

Puerto Rico is home to many beautiful beaches, 56 animal and 239 plant indigenous species, one of which is the emblematic ''coqui­'' frog. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including music (Music/TitoPuente, Jose Feliciano, Hector Lavoe), literature (Rosario Ferre, Tato Laviera, Miguel Algarin), the military (RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN; ADM Horacio Rivera, USN), and beauty pageants, with five victories in Miss Universe (Puerto Rico often sends representatives to international events separate from the American ones), second most successful in that pageant, and not surprisingly as Puerto Rican women have been described as staggeringly beautiful since Columbus' voyage there in 1493. However, poverty remains an ongoing challenge in many areas, and the catastrophic devastation wrought by 2017's Hurricane Maria, followed by a slow recovery (complicated by mainland U.S. political interests seemingly intent on punishing the island) have certainly not helped at all.

Puerto Rico was hit hard by Hurricane Irma, and the Government's response to the disaster inflamed political debate about whether or not Puerto Rico is really seen as a full part of the U.S, or whether the mainland considers Puerto Rican citizens second-class. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement The actual answer to this shall not be discussed here]].

In 2018, its birth certificate policy has been ruled unconstitutional, and transgender Puerto Ricans are now able to correct their birth certificates.
----

Since 1898, Puerto Rico's relationship with the U.S. has been alternately good (sugar boom in the 1920s, ratification of the Puerto Rican Constitution and Operation Bootstrap in the 1950s, modern-day pharmaceutical and manufacturing boom) and bad (Governors Guy V. Henry, E. Montgomery Reilly, Blanton Winship). A recent report on the island reveals that the United States does not and will not consider the current status as "commonwealth" a viable option for the island's permanent future. The generally-accepted options for Puerto Rico's future (besides the status quo) are independence (which has a small but significant following) and statehood (which has a fairly large following but not a majority). The US Army has designed a 51-star flag just in case the latter happens. Various presidents and presidential candidates in the U.S. have actually expressed support in favour of statehood, and Puerto Rico voted to seek statehood in a referendum held in November of 2012. Whether this will be accepted by the US Congress given its current divided state is up in the air.

Stuck right between regions - sometimes it's the smallest of the Greater Antilles, sometimes the largest of the Lesser - Puerto Rico, a mere 110 miles by 40 miles if measuring loosely, is one of two current UsefulNotes/UnitedStates commonwealths/semi-autonomous territories[[note]]the other is the Northern Mariana Islands, population around 50,000[[/note]]. This has some indefinite difference with simple territories (such as UsefulNotes/{{Guam}}), but legally works out to the same as the United States Constitution does not recognize a "commonwealth" as a true status. This means that the island's population is disenfranchised in presidential elections unless they relocate to one of the states proper, despite the fact that they number ''3.4 million'' as of 2015 and thus larger than several of the smaller states' populations combined. Puerto Ricans always have the chance to relocate, though, resulting in a large-scale emigration year by year; from 2010 to 2015, the territory's population saw a decrease of almost 300,000 people.

The island's first inhabitants were the Tainos, tribesmen similar to those of South America, but less aggressive. When the Spanish found the island (in UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus' second trip to the New World) the Tainos believed them to be gods (similar to what happened with Cortez in UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}) and submitted to them, until they got suspicious and decided to try drowning one of them to see if he was immortal. Of course, he proved not to be, leading to an uprising against the invaders, but they were no match for them and ended up enslaved and eventually absorbed into the local gene pool (a similar fate was suffered by the African slaves). Puerto Ricans today are proud of their multicultural origins, as can be seen in everything from its towns (some still bearing Taino names) to the African rhythms of the local music.

The island's first inhabitants were the Tainos, tribesmen similar to those of South America, but less aggressive. When the Spanish found the island (in UsefulNotes/ChristoperColumbus' second trip to the New World) the Tainos believed them to be gods (similar to what happened with Cortez in UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}) and submitted to them, until they got suspicious and decided to try drowning one of them to see if he was immortal. Of course, he proved not to be, leading to an uprising against the invaders, but they were no match for them and ended up enslaved and eventually absorbed into the local gene pool (a similar fate was suffered by the African slaves). Puerto Ricans today are proud of their multicultural origins, as can be seen in everything from its towns (some still bearing Taino names) to the African rhythms of the local music.

Stuck right between regions - sometimes it's the smallest of the Greater Antilles, sometimes the largest of the Lesser - Puerto Rico, a mere 110 miles by 40 miles if measuring loosely, is one of two current United States commonwealths/semi-autonomous territories[[note]]the other is the Northern Mariana Islands, population around 50,000[[/note]]. This has some indefinite difference with simple territories (such as UsefulNotes/{{Guam}}), but legally works out to the same as the United States Constitution does not recognize a "commonwealth" as a true status. This means that the island's population is disenfranchised in presidential elections unless they relocate to one of the states proper, despite the fact that they number ''3.4 million'' as of 2015 and thus larger than several of the smaller states' populations combined. Puerto Ricans always have the chance to relocate, though, resulting in a large-scale emigration year by year; from 2010 to 2015, the territory's population saw a decrease of almost 300,000 people.

The island's first inhabitants were the Tainos, tribesmen similar to those of South America, but less aggressive. When the Spanish found the island (in Colombus' second trip to the New World) the Tainos believed them to be gods (similar to what happened with Cortez in Mexico) and submitted to them, until they got suspicious and decided to try drowning one of them to see if he was immortal. Of course, he proved not to be, leading to an uprising against the invaders, but they were no match for them and ended up enslaved and eventually absorbed into the local gene pool (a similar fate was suffered by the African slaves). Puerto Ricans today are proud of their multicultural origins, as can be seen in everything from its towns (some still bearing Taino names) to the African rhythms of the local music.

Settled in 1508 by Juan Ponce de Leon, its first governor, Puerto Rico was ruled for most of its history by Spain, with the exact quality of said rule depending on the King (or later Queen) in power. The 19th century was an especially troubled time, with several succeeding monarchs and their Prime Ministers allowing reforms, only to later rescind them and later reinstate them. One high point came when [[AwesomeMcCoolName Ramon Power]], a Puerto Rican officer in the Spanish Navy descended from Irish immigrants, served as vice-president of the Spanish ''Cortes'' (equivalent to Parliament) during the Napoleonic Wars.

Most of the late 19th century history of Puerto Rico can be characterized by the development of political organizations seeking autonomous rule for the island. This was finally achieved in 1898, when the first autonomous government of Puerto Rico took power approximately one month before the United States invasion. It is worth noting that said government was similar, at least in broad strokes, to the Dominion of Canada: the only Spanish military officer on the island was its Governor-General, and served exclusively as the representative of the Crown; Puerto Rico agreed to answer to the Spanish crown on matters of defense and foreign affairs, but retained complete power over internal ones; and for the first time, could raise its own defense forces, land and sea alike, though it would depend on the Spanish Armed Forces in wartime.

* ''Film/LaHabanera'' -- made in UsefulNotes/NaziGermany of all places, actually shot in the Canary Islands

In 2018, its birth certificate policy has been ruled unconstitutional, and transgender Puerto Ricans are now able to correct their birth certificates

Stuck right between regions - sometimes it's the smallest of the Greater Antilles, sometimes the largest of the Lesser - Puerto Rico, a mere 110 miles by 40 miles if measuring loosely, is one of two current United States commonwealths/semi-autonomous territories[[note]]the other is the Northern Mariana Islands, population around 50,000[[/note]]. This has some indefinite difference with simple territories (such as UsefulNotes/{{Guam}}), but legally works out to the same as the United States Constitution does not recognize a "commonwealth" as a true status. This means that the island's population is disenfranchised in presidential elections unless they relocate to one of the states proper, despite the fact that they number ''3.4 million'' as of 2015 and thus larger than several of the smaller states' populations combined. Puerto Ricans always have the chance to relocate, though, resulting in a large-scale emigration year by year; from 2010 to 2015, the territory saw a decrease of almost 300 thousand people.

* ''Literature/Invasion'': Puerto Rico fell the superior might of the Chinese military (which also took all of Asia and the Middle East) and came under occupation.