Puerto Rican Americans
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Puerto Rican Americans
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean Island, originally occupied by two Native American tribes, the Arawak and the Caribes. Spain conquered the island in 1493 and ruled it for 400 years. The native inhabitant became slaves, and as their population dwindled; black slaves were also imported. Intermarriage became frequent among the Spanish, the Indians and the blacks. The race became less emphasized over time.
Puerto Rico became a United States possession in 1898, after the Spanish- American War. It was then an island of poor farmers and their families, who mainly grew sugarcane. Due to devastating hurricanes and a single crop economy the unemployment rate grew throughout the early twentieth century. During the World War I, the unemployment rate in Puerto Rico was about 40%.
In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted U...