Abstract
Puerto Rico has been a United States territory since 1898. Since then, the island has remained in an ill-defined relationship with the United States, lacking autonomy and sovereignty. The Supreme Court and Congress have been the primary agents dealing with Puerto Rico's territorial trajectory. While the island has faced many setbacks throughout the years, this thesis asserts that the zenith in autonomy and sovereignty was reached in the 1950s, after two key legislative developments. This set forth an experiment in territorial administration. But the experiment was abandoned and closed in 2016, after two Supreme Court decisions and an Act of Congress sent Puerto Rico—the experiment—in retrograde motion. This thesis explores Puerto Rico's politico-legal developments, with a focus on the 1950s and 2016.
Thesis Completion
2021
Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Merriam, Eric
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs
Degree Program
Political Science and Government; Pre-Law
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
12-1-2021
Recommended Citation
Delgado Suárez, Sebastián J., "The Rise and Fall of Puerto Rico: How Politico-Legal Failures Led to an Experiment's Demise" (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 1097.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/1097