Acquisition and Political Status Changes of Puerto Rico (1898–present)

1. Treaty of Paris cedes Puerto Rico to U.S.

   Dec 10, 1898Labels: Treaty of, Spain, United States

   • Britannica
   • State Dept

2. Treaty of Paris takes effect

   Apr 11, 1899Labels: Treaty of, Ratification, United States

   • Treaty Paris
   • Britannica

3. Foraker Act establishes civilian government

   Apr 12, 1900Labels: Foraker Act, United States, Puerto Rico

   • Britannica
   • Foraker Act

4. Downes v. Bidwell anchors “unincorporated territory” doctrine

   May 27, 1901Labels: Downes v, U S, Insular Cases

   • Downes

5. Jones–Shafroth Act grants U.S. citizenship

   Mar 2, 1917Labels: Jones Shafroth, United States, Puerto Ricans

   • Britannica
   • Jones Act

6. Balzac v. Porto Rico reaffirms unincorporated status

   Apr 10, 1922Labels: Balzac v, U S, Puerto Rico

   • Balzac
   • Mich L Rev

7. Public Law 362 enables election of Puerto Rico’s governor

   Aug 5, 1947Labels: Public Law, United States, Governor Election

   • Britannica

8. Public Law 600 authorizes drafting a local constitution

   Jul 3, 1950Labels: Public Law, United States, Puerto Rico

   • PR Fed Act

9. Puerto Rico voters approve constitution in referendum

   Mar 3, 1952Labels: Puerto Rico, Constitution, Voters

   • State Dept
   • 1952 Ref

10. Commonwealth proclaimed under Puerto Rico Constitution

    Jul 25, 1952Labels: Commonwealth, Constitution of, Puerto Rico

    • State Dept
    • Congress gov

11. First modern status plebiscite favors commonwealth

    Jul 23, 1967Labels: 1967 Plebiscite, Puerto Rico, Commonwealth

    • 1967 Ref

12. 1993 status plebiscite yields commonwealth plurality

    Nov 14, 1993Labels: 1993 Plebiscite, Puerto Rico, Commonwealth

    • 1993 Ref
    • Elec PR

13. 1998 status plebiscite dominated by “none of the above”

    Dec 13, 1998Labels: 1998 Plebiscite, Puerto Rico, None of

    • 1998 Ref
    • WashPost

14. 2012 status referendum rejects territorial status; statehood leads options

    Nov 6, 2012Labels: 2012 Referendum, Puerto Rico, Statehood

    • 2012 Ref
    • Elec PR

15. PROMESA establishes federal fiscal oversight framework

    Jun 30, 2016Labels: PROMESA, Financial Oversight, United States

    • PROMESA

16. 2017 status referendum shows lopsided pro-statehood vote amid boycott

    Jun 11, 2017Labels: 2017 Referendum, Puerto Rico, Statehood

    • 2017 Ref
    • CEE PR

17. Supreme Court upholds PROMESA board appointments

    Jun 1, 2020Labels: Aurelius, U S, PROMESA Board

    • Aurelius
    • Justia

18. 2020 plebiscite narrowly supports immediate statehood admission

    Nov 3, 2020Labels: 2020 Plebiscite, Puerto Rico, Statehood

    • 2020 Ref

19. Supreme Court recognizes oversight board’s immunity protection

    May 11, 2023Labels: Centro de, U S, PROMESA Board

    • CPI Case

20. 2024 status referendum again places statehood first

    Nov 5, 2024Labels: 2024 Referendum, Puerto Rico, Statehood

    • 2024 Ref
    • AP News