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You are here: Home / History / When did the people of Puerto Rico become U.S. citizens?

When did the people of Puerto Rico become U.S. citizens?

May 22, 2020 by Karen Hill

On March 2, 1917, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones Act, all Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens, except the few who refused to accept citizenship.

Wilson was motivated in part by the need for more soldiers to fight World War I. As citizens, Puerto Ricans were now eligible for the draft. Thousands were soon serving in the armed forces.

Although they were U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans did not have to pay federal income tax and did not vote in national elections. Their House of Delegates was still controlled by the appointed American governor.

In the late 1930s, a brief uprising against U.S. rule broke out in the city of Ponce. Nineteen people died. It reminded American authorities that Puerto Rico’s situation had to change.

Related Facts

  • Why isn’t Puerto Rico a state and What would statehood mean for Puerto Rico?
  • Who was the first Puerto Rican elected to govern Puerto Rico in 1946?
  • Where Is Puerto Rico Located, How Many People Live There, and Is Puerto Rico Part of the United States?
  • How many Islands does Puerto Rico have and What is the Capital of Puerto Rico?
  • When did Puerto Ricans start migrating to the U.S. mainland in large numbers?
  • When Did Puerto Rico Become a United States Territory and When Was the Treaty of Paris Signed?

Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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Next Post: What does Puerto Rico mean in Spanish and How did San Juan get its name? »

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