Puerto Rico Acquisition

Definition

The Puerto Rico Acquisition refers to when Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States as part of the Treaty of Paris at end of Spanish American War in 1898.

Analogy

Imagine you're trading cards with your friends. You win a big match (the war) against one friend (Spain) who has to give up one really cool card they have (Puerto Rico). Now that card is part your collection (U.S territories).

Related terms

Foraker Act 1900: An act passed by Congress establishing civil government on Puerto Rico after its acquisition post-Spanish American war.

Jones Act 1917: This granted U.S citizenship to residents of Puerto Rico.

Commonwealth Status: In 1952, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States, which allowed it to govern itself but still under U.S sovereignty.