🟥 Seized & Silenced (Early U.S. takeover and short-term impacts)
What war led to the U.S. taking control of Puerto Rico in 1898?
Spanis-American War
What 1900 law gave the U.S. president power to nominate Puerto Rico’s governor?
the Foraker Act
What industry did the U.S. take over, making Puerto Rico dependent on it?
The sugar industry
What hurricane in 2017 exposed U.S. neglect toward Puerto Rico?
Hurricane Maria
True or False: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but cannot vote for president.
True
What year did the U.S. take Puerto Rico?
1898, after the Spanish-American War.
For almost 50 years, who chose Puerto Rico’s governor
The U.S. president
What kind of jobs did many Puerto Ricans have under early U.S. economic control?
low wage labor jobs
How long did parts of Puerto Rico wait for electricity after Hurricane Maria?
Up to 11 months
True or False: Puerto Rico gets the same aid as any U.S. state.
False
What treaty officially transferred Puerto Rico to the United States?
Treaty of Paris (1898).
What can Puerto Ricans not do in U.S. presidential elections?
Vote
What did the U.S. promise Puerto Rico but not fully deliver?
Modernization, Benefits, "The Correct Way of life" (the American way of living, EX: assimilation & indoctrination of culture and traditions) and Progress
Even when Puerto Ricans vote in referendums for statehood, what usually happens?
Congress ignores the results or takes no action
True or False: Puerto Rico has equal representation in Congress.
False
What happened to Puerto Rican land after the U.S. takeover?
U.S. businesses took control, especially sugar plantations.
How many voting members does Puerto Rico have in Congress today?
Zero
What was Puerto Rico’s role in the U.S. economy after being seized?
A supplier of goods for U.S. profit
What political event has Puerto Ricans voted on several times with no results?
The statehood referendum
More Puerto Ricans live in the mainland U.S. than on the island.
True
What kind of schools did the U.S. force Puerto Rican children to attend?
American ran schools to push assimilation
What modern political structure still keeps Puerto Rico from full self-rule?
Being a U.S. territory
What phrase did protestors use to describe colonialism in modern Puerto Rico?
“Colonialism is Slavery”
Despite repeated votes, who decides Puerto Rico’s future?
The U.S. Congress
True or False: Puerto Rico competes in the Olympics as part of Team USA.
False (It competes independently.)