One thing is clear: many people continue to be confused about Puerto Rico’s status. To make sure we all start on the same page, the facts are that Puerto Rico is a territory belonging to the United States, and that people born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States.
Yet over and over we see evidence that many people do not understand what it means to be a territory or do not realize that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Surprisingly, there is also confusion about Puerto Rican independence.
Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory
What is independence?
In the context of political status, independence refers to independent nations. These are separate countries with their own sovereignty, their own constitutions, and their own governments. While some independent nations use U.S. currency, depend on the United States for defense, or have compacts of free association with the United States, independent nations are not governed by the U.S. Constitution or the President of the United States. They do not belong to any other nation and do not have to follow the laws of other countries.
Independent countries can make treaties with other nations and develop relationships, but cannot expect to share citizenship with or to participate in the governments of other nations.
Puerto Rico is not independent
Puerto Rico belongs to the United States. It does not benefit from everything in the U.S. Constitution, but it is generally bound by the U.S. Constitution, and the U.S. Congress required changes in the Puerto Rico constitution. It cannot make deals with other nations and must follow all federal laws. It does not have its own currency or military, and the President of the United States is also the President of Puerto Rico.
In short, Puerto Rico is not independent.
Yet the Smithsonian Institution’s Postal Museum has this page on its website:
The “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage” section of the website includes under “independence” pages about Simon Bolivar and José de San Martín, who fought for independence from Spain in South America, Mexican independence — and Puerto Rican independence.
The page also correctly describes Puerto Rico as “an unincorporated U.S. territory,” but concludes the section on Puerto Rican independence with the fact that Puerto Ricans “now fully administer their internal affairs under a constitution approved by the US Congress in 1952.”
This is true. Yet it can also be argued that using the word “independence” in this context is misleading, perhaps an overstatement. After all, the U.S. Congress can take actions like installing the Financial Oversight and Management Board with powers to govern Puerto Rico. This arrangement is not “independent” in the typical meaning of the term.
Still, many writers in social media, blogs, and even news outlets refer to Puerto Rico as a country or a nation.
Puerto Rico has remained for more than a century in a temporary political status. It is not independent. It is also not a state. It is a U.S. territory.
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