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Christopher Columbus claims Puerto Rico for Spain
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Christopher Columbus claims Puerto Rico for Spain
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Under the treaty of Paris, Puerto Rico is ceded to the United States by the Spanish at the end of the Spanish American War
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The United States congress begins instituting a civil government in Puerto Rico. The US continues to have strict control over the island's affairs.
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US officially claims Puerto Rico as a United States territory
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The Jones Act gives Puerto Ricans United States citizenship
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Partial self government is granted, allowing the citizens of Puerto Rico to be able to elect their own governor.
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President Truman signs the Puerto Rico Commonwealth Bill, paving the way for a Puerto Rican constitution. Nationalists oppose the new law and resort to violence. In November two US-based nationalists attempt to assassinate President Truman in Washington DC.
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Spanish and English are established as the official languages of Puerto Rico
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Hurricane George sweeps across Puerto Rico, causing serious damage. President Clinton declares Puerto Rico as a disaster zone.
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Off target bombs kill a security guard in Vieques, an island home to a US Navy bombing range. This triggers some large scale protests.
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PPD's Sila Calderon elected as first female governor.
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President George W Bush agrees to halt the use of the Vieques bombing range
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Fugitive pro-independence rebel leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios is killed in a shoot out with US federal agents. This causes anger on the island.
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US Supreme Court rejects an appeal for Puerto Ricans to be able to vote in US presidential elections.
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Due to budget shorts, many schools and government agencies are closed. People protest.
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Dozens of Puerto Rican police are held on drugs charges following the biggest police graft probe in FBI history.
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Barack Obama was the first president to make an official visit to the island since JFK.
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The governor warns that the island can not pay its $72 billion in debt. The island ends up defaulting on its debt for the first time. (Default occurs when a debtor is unable to meet the legal obligation of debt repayment)
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Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane, hits Puerto Rico in September, leaving a trail of disaster behind.
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Puerto Rico votes overwhelmingly in favour of becoming America's 51st state, though only 23 percent of voters take part.