Over 3.1 million U.S. citizens reside in the island of Puerto Rico, and over 5.4 million people in the U.S. have Puerto Rican ancestry; yet, social studies curriculum is often silent on Puerto Rican issues beyond the results of the Spanish-American War. Even the fact that Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917 escapes most people in the U.S. The 122-year relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico has been a long and complicated story of colonialism. In its most recent chapter, a socio-political financial crisis as well as the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 have led to dramatic migration of Puerto Ricans to the U.S. What does the political status of Puerto Rico reveal about U.S. democracy? This session will provide resources and teaching ideas to guide high school students in understanding and discussing the political relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.
