IS PUERTO RICO PART OF THE UNITED STATES?
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How do define "part"? Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States since in 1898, Spain ceded its control of the island to United States following the Spanish–American War, according to the Treaty of Paris. People born in Puerto Rico are natural-born citizens of the United States. The territory operates under a local constitution, and Puerto Ricans elect a governor. However, Puerto Rico lacks voting members in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Also, Puerto Rican residents CANNOT vote for in Presidential elections.
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PUERTO RICO: A UNITED STATES TERRITORY
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In 1947, the U.S. granted Puerto Ricans the right to democratically elect their own governor. In 1948, Luis Muñoz Marín became the first popularly elected governor of Puerto Rico. The independence movement on Puerto Rico has been popular at various times throughout it's history. So much so that the government even had to establish a "Gag Law" which made it illegal to display a Puerto Rican flag, sing a patriotic song, or even speak of the independence movement!
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