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Zusatztext This is a very useful book, a manual that offers a comprehensive view of what Puerto Rico is and has been: its history, circumstances, and problems... It is also book written in a simple way and easy to understand, which serves as a base and introduction to the topic for those who know nothing about our country. Informationen zum Autor Jorge Duany is Director of the Cuban Research Institute and Professor of Anthropology at Florida International University. He has published extensively on migration, ethnicity, race, nationalism, and transnationalism in Cuba, the Caribbean, and the United States. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of 20 books, including several works about Puerto Rico. Klappentext Puerto Rico, acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. Its commonwealth status has been hotly debated since its establishment, and the pervasive presence of US power in the island's military, political, economic, and educational institutions is a source of constant tension. Despite their ongoing colonial dilemma, Puerto Ricans display a strong national identity and pride in their rich culture and history. Zusammenfassung Puerto Rico, acquired by the United States from Spain in 1898, has a peculiar status among Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a Commonwealth, the island enjoys limited autonomy over local matters, but the U.S. has essentially dominated it militarily, politically, and economically for much of its history. Though they are citizens, Puerto Ricans do not have their own voting representatives in Congress and cannot vote for the president or VP. The island's status is a topic of perennial debate, evidenced by the 2012 referendum, in which a majority voted for statehood for the first time. More recently, the island's colossal public debt has sparked an economic crisis that is the focus of an upcoming Supreme Court case. The issue is intimately tied to the question of status, and consensus on the solution has proven elusive.Despite their ongoing colonial dilemma, Puerto Ricans display a strong national identity-after 118 years of occupation, the Island remains a Spanish-speaking, Afro-Hispanic-Caribbean nation. At the same time, the island's population is constantly in flux, with an estimated 60.7% of boricuas living stateside, while many others are also returning to the island. Despite the island's popularity as a tourist destination, few beyond its shores are familiar with its history. Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know provides a succinct, authoritative, and well-documented introduction to the Island's rich history, culture, politics, and economy. Jorge Duany, takes on the task of educating readers on the most important facets of the unique, troubled, but much beloved isla del encanto. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction Part I: Puerto Rico before 1898 What groups inhabited Puerto Rico before the Spanish Conquest? Why did the indigenous population of Puerto Rico decline so quickly after Spanish colonization? Why were African slaves imported to the Island? What role did immigration play in shaping Puerto Rico's population? What were the main features of Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico? What was Puerto Rico's primary role within the Spanish empire in the Americas? Why was the capital city of San Juan fortified? How did the Catholic Church influence the development of Puerto Rican culture? What happened to the Island's agricultural economy during the 19th century? How did the intensive cultivation of sugar and coffee transform the Island's landscape? What happened to Puerto Rico's population throughout the 19th century? Why didn't Puerto Rico become independent from Spain? What was the Lares uprising and why didn't it succeed? How did an incipient sense of national identity emerge during the 19th century? Why w...
