U.S. acquires Puerto Rico, Foraker Act

At the end of the Spanish-American War, in December 1898, Spain signed the Treaty of Paris and transferred control of Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States [Library of Congress, 2011]. The following August, Hurricane San Ciriaco made landfall, causing widespread devastation and sparking an economic collapse on the island [Library of Congress, 2011]. In 1900, without consulting Puerto Rican leaders, the United States passed the Foraker Act, setting up a government on the island, and enforcing all US federal laws. While the Foraker Act allowed Puerto Ricans to vote for their House of Representative members, it did not grant the right to vote in US federal elections. As the newly created Executive Council was entirely appointed by the US President, this created animosity with Puerto Ricans who felt they could not control their home [Library of Congress, 2011].