Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top 10 Famous
Puerto Ricans
!
Luis Muñoz Rivera
(1859-1916)
Poet and political activist who
was instrumental in gaining
autonomy for Puerto Rico.
@
Luis Muñoz Marín
(1898-1980)
The first democratically elected
governor of Puerto Rico and
considered the “Father of
Modern Puerto Rico.”
£
Raúl Juliá (1940-94)
Fiftieth anniversary as a US Commonwealth
Luis Muñoz Rivera petitioned
for Puerto Rican autonomy. On
July 17, 1898 an independent
legislature convened.
*
US Take-Over
Award-winning actor best-
known for his roles in the hits
Addams Family
and
Kiss of
the Spider Woman
.
$
Eugenio María de
Hostos (1839-1903)
Liberal lawyer and
independence activist who
helped establish Puerto Rico's
education system.
Covetous of Spain's colonies,
the US found a pretext to
declare war on the country on
April 25, 1898. San Juan was
bombarded by US warships and
marines landed at Guánica. Spain
sued for peace and the US took
control of Puerto Rico.
(
Citizenship Granted
%
Jimmy Smits (b. 1955)
New York-born actor who
starred in
Star Wars, Miami
Vice,
and
L.A. Law
.
^
Ramón Power y Giralt
(1775-1813)
An admiral in the Spanish
navy who represented Puerto
Rico in the Spanish Cortes.
&
Geraldo Rivera
US investors poured money
into Puerto Rico, which was
ruled by governors imposed by
Washington. Although Puerto
Ricans were granted US citizen-
ship in 1917, self-government was
denied, spawning a nationalist
movement that culminated in an
assassination attempt in 1950
against President Truman.
)
Commonwealth Status
(b. 1943)
Attorney, television reporter,
and host of
The Geraldo
Rivera Show
.
*
Wilfred Benítez
(b. 1958)
Boxer who won world
championships in three
separate weight divisions.
(
Jennifer López (b. 1969)
On July 25, 1952, the island
became the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, with its own anthem,
flag, and judiciary. Islanders, how-
ever, could still not vote for the
US president. The economy
subsequently witnessed a boom-
and-bust cycle and the island
became dependent on federal
subsidies and US investments.
Singer and actress born in
New York
(see p34)
.
)
Juan 'Chi Chi'
Rodríguez (b. 1935)
Professional golfer who was
inducted into the World Golf
Hall of Fame.
31
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