Was Puerto Rico Ever a Sovereign Country?

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In this episode of Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes, Edwin Ortiz introduces a new radio talk show format with a thoughtful discussion on one of the most misunderstood questions in Puerto Rico’s political conversation: Was Puerto Rico ever a sovereign country? Before answering that question, this episode looks back at Puerto Rico’s political development under Spain, especially the 1897 Carta Autonómica, the elections of March 27, 1898, and the autonomous framework that was beginning to take shape before the United States invaded the island. The episode also compares Puerto Rico’s 1897 autonomy to Spain’s modern autonomous communities, such as the Canary Islands, explaining how Puerto Rico and Cuba received an early form of autonomy decades before Spain’s current autonomous system was created after the 1978 Constitution. From there, the conversation turns to the difference between a cultural nation and a sovereign country. Puerto Rico has a powerful identity, culture, history, language, traditions, and sense of peoplehood. But historically, Puerto Rico has never been an independent sovereign state recognized internationally as its own country. This episode invites listeners to think deeper about the words we use when discussing Puerto Rico’s status: nation, country, colony, territory, autonomy, sovereignty, and identity. Can Puerto Rico be a nation culturally without having ever been a sovereign country politically? Have we been using these words correctly? And what does that mean for how Puerto Ricans discuss their future? Listen, reflect, and join the conversation.

The Empty Chair: Who Represented Puerto Rico in 1898?

Most of us have heard about the Treaty of Paris, but very few have ever stopped to ask a simple question: Who was sitting at the negotiating table... and who wasn't? In this podcast, we examine the original Treaty of Paris, the signatures that changed Puerto Rico's future, and the surprising discovery that Puerto Rico's own duly elected autonomous government—elected on March 27, 1898—had no representative at the negotiating table. We'll also explore the role of Whitelaw Reid, one of the five American commissioners who negotiated the treaty, his later writings in Problems of Expansion, and how those ideas may help us better understand the constitutional path Puerto Rico followed after 1898. This isn't about rewriting history. It's about returning to the original documents, asking difficult questions, and allowing the historical record to speak for itself. We invite you to join us as we continue exploring Puerto Rico's past, present, and possible future. 📚 Join our FREE Substack Community Join our growing community on Substack for FREE and stay connected with our latest research, historical articles, podcasts, and exclusive content. If you enjoy our work and would like to support our research, you also have the option of making a one-time donation or becoming a paid supporter directly through Substack. Every contribution helps us continue researching and producing educational content. FREE Substack: https://substack.com/@puertoricoopenyoureyes [https://substack.com/@puertoricoopenyoureyes] ❤️ Support Our Research If you would like to support our educational work and historical research, you can also contribute through our Crowdfunder campaign. Every donation—large or small—helps us continue producing podcasts, historical investigations, educational videos, interviews, and documentaries. Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/pnA83m2W?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink [https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/pnA83m2W?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink] 🎙 Listen to the Puerto Rico, Open Your Eyes Podcast Visit our website: https://puertoricoabranlosojos.com/ [https://puertoricoabranlosojos.com/] 📺 Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@PuertoRicoOpenYourEyes [https://www.youtube.com/@PuertoRicoOpenYourEyes] 🌎 Learn More About Our Work The National Puerto Rico & Spain Initiative https://tnprsi.org [https://tnprsi.org] Proyecto Puerto Rico en España https://proyectopuertoricoenespana.com [https://proyectopuertoricoenespana.com] If you enjoyed this podcast, please Like, Share, and Subscribe. Every share helps bring Puerto Rico's overlooked history to a wider audience. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Ayer10 min

Was Puerto Rico Ever a Sovereign Country?

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