How did the US gain power over Puerto Rico?

Answer 1

Some examples of the gross stupidity shown by the early appointed Governors of the new Territory of Puerto Rico included banning all education in the Spanish language. Here was a people that had used Spanish in their daily lives for 400 years and were only now hearing English for the first time. Where were the teachers to come from when the best educated on the Island had rarely if ever used English. It created a 20 year time frame when almost no student advanced as far as the third grade. Even today such action is seen as a root cause of much of the Anti Yankee sentiment on the Island. Bans against peaceful assembly where Spanish was spoken drove many behind closed doors to protest. Clerics rebelled. Stores rebelled. Political talk was not allowed. Politics was driven into the hills. Flags were banned and a new cult was born that cherished hidden banners as holy icons.

Americanization by Imperialists was not the correct way to Win Hearts and Minds. The few who had supported the American intervention in Puerto Rico were cast aside and many of them rebelled. Until President Franklin Roosevelt entered office they never had a friend in the White House and the plight of the working man and woman had been ignored. Even that Administration failed by appointing as their first Native Born Governor a person who was viewed as a lacky to big business. In the years between the Cuban Missile Crisis (when a minority favored a Caribbean Communist State) and the election of the first Black American President the general cultural attitude has been altered.

The reserved belief is that American attitudes have changed and now may be the time to seek a new accomodation in their political status is at hand.

Answer 2

It was ceded to the US by Spain after the Spanish American War/

Answer 3

It was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898 after the Spanish American War,