Why the U.S. Occupied Puerto Rico: Strategy, Economics, and Ideology

The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, driven by multiple motives:

1. Strategic Location: A Caribbean naval base to monitor sea lanes, protect the Panama Canal (later), and project power.
2. Economic Interests: Access to Puerto Rico's sugar industry and potential as a trade hub.
3. Expansionism: Joining European powers in colonial acquisition; asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
4. Manifest Destiny: Ideological belief in U.S. territorial destiny beyond the continent.

The occupation sparked enduring controversy and resistance among Puerto Ricans, shaping a complex colonial relationship that persists today.