Puerto Rico History

History
Puerto Rico was discovered in 1493. Juan Ponce de León explored the island in 1508 and established San Juan that same year. There were at least four attempts to bring the island under English control, one in 1595, and three in the 18th century.

As the spirit of revolt became more prevalent throughout the Spanish colonies, many who remained loyal to the Spanish crown immigrated to Puerto Rico, the last Spanish stronghold in the New World. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, Puerto Rico was occupied by the United States. U.S. citizenship was granted to all Puerto Ricans in 1917. Today it remains as a territorial possession of the United States. 

Timeline
1493 - Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico during his second voyage 1508 - Juan Ponce de León, a lieutenant under Columbus, founded the first Spanish settlement 1797 - Sir Ralph Abercromby's fleet invaded the island with a force of 6,000–13,000 men, which included German soldiers and Royal Marines and 60 to 64 ships. Fierce fighting continued for the next days with Spanish troops and both sides suffered heavy losses 1815 - The Royal Decree of Graces is a legal order approved by the Spanish Crown in the early half of the 19th century to encourage Spaniards and, later, Europeans of of non-Spanish origin, to settle in and populate the colony of Puerto Rico as a result of which 450,000 immigrants, mainly Spaniards, settled on the island in the period up until the American conquest 1899 - Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines and Guam, then under Spanish sovereignty, to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris 1906 - During an address to the Puerto Rican legislature, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens 1952 - The Constitution of Puerto Rico was formally adopted and the convention approved Resolution 22 which chose in English the word Commonwealth, meaning a "politically organized community" or "state", which is simultaneously connected by a compact or treaty to another political system