Puerto Rico

Essay # 60430

Economics
Geography
Latin-American Studies

Puerto Rico

This paper discusses the history, politics and economics of Puerto Rico.

1,864 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the U.S., is located in the Caribbean Sea, one of over 7,000 tropical islands called the West Indies, is a high tourist area because of its breath-taking beauty. The author points out there is an argument about Puerto Rico becoming a state, which would lead to assimilation into the United States' culture, or remaining a commonwealth, a nation separate from the United States; however, the United States has a strong argument when it says that either Puerto Rico joins in on all the responsibilities of being a state or receive none of the benefits, if it does not become a state. The paper relates that the economy of Puerto Rico has had the benefit of a duty-free status, which has brought American owned companies; but, even though there is a minimum wage, there are not enough jobs and therefore there is a marked migration of Puerto Ricans to the United States.

From the Paper:

"Ignorance about Puerto Rico on behalf of Americans has existed for many years. Most Americans do not know that Puerto Ricans use American currency, that one cannot drive to Puerto Rico, and that every person born on the island is an American citizen. Many Americans are angry that Puerto Ricans receive welfare benefits and citizenship and yet they do not pay into the U.S. Treasury. However, these beliefs about Puerto Ricans are un-educated because in fact, "Against their will, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917" (Cueto, Fernandez, Mendez ix). In order to fully understand why this is, it is important to study the history of the Puerto Rican people and then to utilize this knowledge to educate other Americans."