Puerto Rican Constitution Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Puerto Rico

The 25th of July is Constitution Day in Puerto Rico. It commemorates the 1825 signing of the first Puerto Rican Constitution by Governor Luis Muoz Marn. The holiday also serves as a reminder of Puerto Rico’s statehood aspirations, which have languished for centuries.

The background of Puerto Rican Constitution Day

Colonialization of Puerto Rico dates back to the 16th century. The Spanish imposed centuries of oppression, taxation, and debilitating poverty during the first three hundred years of its existence. At last, the populace had had enough. In 1868, they initiated a revolution, but the authorities swiftly suppressed it. In an effort to appease the populace and defuse tensions, the Spanish government granted Puerto Ricans greater independence, which was in its infancy when the United States declared war on Spain.

The U.S. forces invaded and occupied the island until the end of the Spanish-American War on July 25, 1898. In accordance with a peace treaty, Puerto Rico became a U.S. colony when the conflict ended. But the populace desired their own nation. The Foraker Act was enacted in 1900 in response to the increasing volume of the Puerto Rican clamour for autonomy. Although the act constituted a civilian government, it did not grant the islanders complete rights. Puerto Rico was granted the status of “unorganised territory” with some degree of autonomy, which was insufficient. As tensions on the island escalated, the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 granted U.S. citizenship to the majority of Puerto Ricans while authorising Congress and the U.S. President to veto Puerto Rican legislation.

In 1950, the United States initiated constitutional drafting discussions for Puerto Rico, but only if its territorial status remained unaltered. Puerto Rico called for a constitutional convention in which a republican form of government and a charter of rights were advocated. In 1952, Puerto Rico changed its official name to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and adopted a new constitution.

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5 Puerto Rico facts that will blow your mind

Many people believe Puerto Rico to be a single island, but it actually consists of several.

Due to its status as an unincorporated territory, many consider Puerto Rico to be the oldest existing colony in the globe.

El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the natural forest system of the United States.

You can walk for miles along Luquillo Beach.

Puerto Ricans are so fond of pia coladas that they have proposed them as the nation’s official beverage.

PUERTO RICAN CONSTITUTION DAY DATES