puerto-rican-nationalism

The chapter examines Puerto Rico's mid-20th century colonial status through the political evolution of Luis Muñoz Marín, who shifted from independence advocacy to pragmatic autonomy under U.S. rule, balancing economic dependency with limited self-governance. It details the island's use as a site for controversial birth control experimentation and sterilization programs, alongside government-supported migration to the mainland, highlighting tensions between nationalist resistance led by Pedro Albizu Campos and colonial medical and political control. The chapter also covers the 1950 nationalist uprisings, the establishment of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth in 1952, and the cultural erasure and stereotyping of Puerto Rican identity in mainland narratives, exemplified by events like the 1954 nationalist attack on the U.S. Congress and portrayals in West Side Story.

This chapter's notes provide a detailed documentation of the Philippine-American War and U.S. imperialism in the early 20th century, highlighting the violent military occupation, racialized attitudes, and the devastating human cost including high mortality from war and disease. It also explores the complexities of colonial governance and resistance, focusing on figures like Pedro Albizu Campos in Puerto Rico and the broader anti-imperialist and nationalist movements influenced by Wilsonian ideals. The chapter critically examines the racial classifications, cultural propaganda, and political debates that shaped the contested legacies of American empire and sovereignty.

The chapter provides detailed notes documenting the complex processes of decolonization and territorial status changes in the Greater United States after World War II, focusing on territories such as the Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. It highlights the political debates, military demobilization challenges, nationalist movements, and the ambivalent American policies toward its overseas territories, with particular attention to Puerto Rico's population control measures, nationalist uprisings, government repression, and cultural representation in U.S. media.