Puerto Rico

Real Cedula de Gracias
It encouraged the immigration of people into the Island, so long as they were Catholics.
These new comers were given free land to develop into farms or other businesses and were extent from paying taxes on any property they owned – even slaves-.
The population grew by 40 % over the next two decades. Most of the immigrants came from Spain, The Canary Islands, Italy, France and other countries.
It was this influx of people that would bring about the establishment of various towns.
Spanish Colonization
The Spanish colonized the island on November 19, 1493 and christened it San Juan Bautista.
To mine the resources the Spanish used the native Indians, but after a few epidemics and some revolts their numbers dwindled and African slaves had to be brought in.
In the 1510's Juan Ponce de Leon moved the capital from Caparra (nowadays the border of Bayamon-Guaynabo) to the islet where it is located now.
The city was fortified in the 17th Century to withstand pirate and other nation's attacks.

Pre-Columbian Times
The first wave of migration into the Caribbean Region was from people from South America. These people gave rise to both the Osteoide Culture and the Hueconoide Culture in eastern Puerto Rico.
The most successful of these colonizers were the Tainos, who colonized the whole Island and were the first group the Spanish colonizers came into contact.
History
Official Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Capital: San Juan.
Size: 111 x 40
Population: 3, 598, 357 (2015, estimates)
Religion: The most numerous are the Catholics, the other Chrisitian denominations (Evangelists, Pentecostals, Jehovah Witnesses, and so on) following as the next most numerous groups. The minority faiths are Spiritism, Santeria, Buddhism, Jewish, Islamic, Hare Krishna and the Mita Congregation.
Official languages: Spanish and English (5% of the population is bilingual).

Revolts
Live under Spanish rule was not easy and as such various revolts were planned and executed, all failed. The two most important were:
The Grito de Lares – which liberated a chunk of the Island from Spanish rule for 72 hours. It would have extended across the Island, but the authorities got wind of it and it had to be pushed forward in time to surprise authorities.
The Intentona de Yauco – a small case farmer revolt in the town of Yauco in 1897, its importance is that because of it that area was decided upon to be the landing strip in the eventual invasion of the Island.
Spanish-American War
Other important events:

Jones Law: signed in 1917, gives American citizenship to everyone born in Puerto Rico.
On July 25, 1952 Congress authorizes the Puerto Rican Constitution and with it the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is born.

Salsa
Music and Dance
Bomba Dance
On the southern side of he island, we have the municipality of Ponce and surrounding areas, were a stronger European presence meant that many of their traditions and customs reflected elements present on Spain and other European regions.
The Festival of Santiago the Apostol in Loiza, PR a town that was founded by runaway slaves and to this day is still a community in touch with their Afro-American roots.
Culture: Food
Culture: Carnivals
The cultural background of the different immigrant groups seeped into the background of various towns and regions in Puerto Rico.
As an example we have the Hatillo Mask Festival, a region were the majority of migrants from the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) settled.
Puerto Rico
Pedro J. Matos
Hispanic Heritage Month
Florida Virtual Schools Program
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