Why Puerto Rico is not a US state

Nearly half of Americans don’t know that Puerto Ricans are US citizens. But they are, and have been since 1917.

As residents of the US Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans have US passports, can travel freely throughout the country and can serve in the military. But that doesn’t mean the US citizens who live in Puerto Rico get the same rights and benefits as US citizens stateside.

Watch the video above to understand how Puerto Rico became a US commonwealth, the tangled relationship that developed, and how it all affects prosperity and development on the island today.

[snazzy]

46% of Americans don’t know puertoriqueños are U.S. citizens? 🤦🏼‍♂️

[filmesantigos]

Taxation without representation means that Puerto Rico is an american colony .

[Bayard]

So you draft them for wars but you don't give them statehood. Shameful.

[antialiasantialias]

"Americans didn't know Puerto Ricans are American citizens."

I mean, Americans also don't know that Africa is not a country, so

[jc-xdpr]

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Puerto Ricans were US citizens.

[toso]

Wait. So judging by flags, Captain America is actually Captain Puerto Rico?

[LifeWLouis]

“Taxation with representation” anyone?

[olajong]

why did the usa become independent from the uk taxation without representation

UK to US-Ahhh you have become the very thing you swore to destroy

[Cartmanfan]

The irony is how over 200 years ago we used " no taxation without representation" as a way to criticize the British government smh

[thomasrivera]

Puerto Rico was a PROVINCE of Spain and had seats on its' parliament... yet 118 years have passed and we still don't have seats on Congress. I Serve in the US military and am stationed in Puerto Rico and we deserve equal respect because I uphold and protect the US constitution and thee American dream in which this nation was founded on. No Taxation without Representation.

[keily]

Puerto Rican’s should be allowed to vote wtf

[fernandgutez]

In 1916, Puerto Rico asked for Independence and the USA refused (as promised in 1898) and forced USA citizenship upon the people in 1917.

[efilwv]

Apparently Trump doesn’t know its a US territory ether.

[darmycortes]

This makes it seem as if the government immediately gave Puerto Ricans citizenship. They didn't. For a long time Puerto Ricans suffered because the US didn't know what to do with their newly acquired colony.

[pierceyu]

Kind of realized that this could have happened to the Philippines considering it being an old colony of both Spain and America

[arturomartinez]

"Commonwealth" you've spelled COLONY wrong

[janl.rivera]

I live in Puerto Rico :]

Some of the people that live here still don’t have water nor power. Although, the government is trying to fix the electrical problems, but it takes a lot of time because of the location of the area and the supplies we need.

[axelschultz]

No taxation without representation is a statment of hypocrisy.

[JurassicRaptor]

At this rate, I think Puerto Rico should be it's own country. But the decision is up to them.

[josephleonard]

*"In the middle, no. Being a Commonwealth!"*

That's basically the same thing