U.S. Military Policy and Vieques:The Constitutionality and Consequences of Bombing a Nation
By: Natasha Lycia Ora BannanCity University School of LawFall, 2009
History of Colonialism inPuerto Rico and the Origins of Status
Under the Constitution of the United States, no power is given to the federal government toacquire territory to be governed permanently as colonies
.”Puerto Rico has been a colony for half a millennium, first under control of Spain and then for the past 100 years as a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War.However U.S. interests in the island nation began in1823withthe infamous MonroeDoctrine.PresidentMonroe’sdistaste for European involvement and continued colonial expansionin the WesternHemisphere,which was seen as threat to national security, was expressed by veiled threatswarning Europe not to interfere with U.S. interests in the Caribbean.Puerto Rico’s centrallocation was considered key to aiding in U.S. military operations in the region.Puerto Rico’scenturies-longstruggle for independenceunder Spanish rule culminated in theGrito de Lares in 1868.Hundreds of farmers, day laborers and former slaves led a rebellionasserting their independence from Spanish rule and demanding that Spain recognize their sovereignty.However without the support of their fellow Puerto Ricans to resist imperialismas well, the protestors were soon squelched by their Spanish rulers.The event still serves as asymbolic representation to many of the eternal desire of Puerto Ricans to be free from colonialrule and to assert their independence.Along with the Phillipines and Guam, Puerto Rico was given to the United States under theterms of theTreaty of Paris,ending theSpanish-Americanwarand transferring one colonial rulefor another.When General Nelson Miles landed on the shores of Guanica promising freedom tothe people of Puerto Rico, there was a genuine hope that his words would ring true.However,soon after the island nation would realize that their status would not be resolved.Two years later Congress passed the Organic Act of 1900, also known as the Foraker Act, which establishedcivilian government in Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican citizenship.The Act also made all federallaws applicable to Puerto Rico.