The Taino, an indigenous group, were the first inhabitants of Puerto Rico. The island was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World and was governed by Ponce de Leon on behalf of the Spanish crown from 1508. You can still visit Casa Blanca, a home he intended to live in (but never did) but which housed his descendants for several generations; it's located on a charming end-of-the-street spot in Old San Juan and has a lovely, quiet garden.
Puerto Rico (Rich Port), originally called San Juan (now the name of the capital) was eventually ceded to the USA in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War. In Guanica, on Puerto Rico's southern coast, you can see a monument to the American ‘invasion’; this is where US troops entered the island during the war.
In 1917 Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship and in 1952 the island became a self-governing Commonwealth in association with the USA. Many people regard this situation as a compromise between full membership to the USA and full independence. In practice, this gives Puerto Ricans an American passport and makes them eligible for military draft but they do not pay US federal taxes and cannot vote in US elections.
Of the main political parties, the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) is broadly in favour of the existing Commonwealth status, while the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) supports full state membership. A third party, Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) supports independence. There are several other minor political parties.
In December 1998, the third referendum in 30 years was held on the issue: voters were asked whether they wished Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the USA, become independent, enter a compact of Free Association (similar to that which operates in a number of Pacific micro-territories) or retain the status quo. By a narrow majority, they voted for the status quo. There is still a strong lobby for full independence for Puerto Rico, and the issue remains a sensitive issue on the island: its advocates received a boost in 2003 when the US military ended its use of the island of Vieques for military exercises after 60 years. A new referendum has tentatively been scheduled for August 2012.
Puerto Rico has a representative in the US House of Representatives; however, this person, called the resident commissioner, does not have a vote. The inhabitants of the island are US citizens, but they may not vote in presidential elections. The most recent election for governor, held in November 2008, was won by Luis Fortuño, the former resident commissioner, of the PNP. He plans to run for re-election in 2012; there are no term limits for the governorship in Puerto Rico.
Roman Catholic 85%; the remainder are Protestant and Jewish. Syncretic practices such as Santeria often exist alongside formal religion in devotees' personal expressions of faith.
Social conventions:Handshaking is the customary form of greeting among acquaintances. Casual dress is acceptable, but shorts should not be worn in hotel dining rooms or casinos, where formal dress is required after 2000. Spanish and American manners and conventions exist side by side on the island. Some hotels require formal dress.
Spanish and English are the official languages.
