Puerto Rico

1
Puerto Rico
2
History

• Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
• Settled by Juan Ponce de Leon.
• Controlled by Spain until 1898, at which point it
  became property of the United States by the
  Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American
  War.

3
Trivial Facts

• National Bird Stripe-headed tanager
• National Flower Puerto Rican Hibiscus
• National Tree Silk-cotton tree
• National Symbol Coqui
• tiny frog found every-
• where on the island

4
Relationship with United States

• Relationship is defined as a commonwealth.
• Puerto Rico does not vote in national elections,
  represented with a Resident Commissioner who has
  a voice in the House but no vote.

5
Government

• Known as a Democracy within the US
  Constitutional System.
• Government within Puerto Rico has an Executive,
  Legislative, and Judicial branches.
• Sometimes conflicts occur between US and Puerto
  Rican governments about the country itself see
  for an example of a conflict government conflicts

6
Trade

• Major exports include chemicals,
  pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, medical
  equipment, etc.
• Imports include chemicals, machinery, equipment,
  petroleum products.
• However, certain imports have caused a great deal
  of controversy throughout the country, see
• imports

7
Poverty

• US Department of Health and Human Services do not
  define poverty guidelines for Puerto Rico.
• Puerto Rico set its own poverty level which is
  lower then the FPL.
• Population below poverty level 44.6.
• For information on poverty in Puerto Rico see
  poverty.

8
Working and Earning Money

• Unemployment rate 11.8.
• Basic Minimum wage 3.61-5.15.
• 4 unions with 115,000 members.
• Labor force1.2 million.

9
Taxes

• There is no sales tax in Puerto Rico.
• There is a 5 tax on jewelry, and 11 tax on
  hotels with casinos, and 9 tax on regular
  hotels.
• Taxes are based on self-assessment.
• Taxes are paid to the state.

10
Languages

• Papers in Puerto Rico are printed in both English
  and Spanish.
• There have also been legislations signed giving
  English and Spanish an equal status throughout
  the county.
• English is required with all federal matters.

11
Other Common Topics

• Many authors discuss the varying opinions of
  people who are pro-commonwealth, and those who
  are pro-statehood.
• See varying opinions.

12
Media in Puerto Rico

• Very similar to Media in US.
• Articles are written about various topics.
• Authors write about trade, and foreign relations,
  taxes, government, and other things just like the
  papers in the US do.
• A good example of a story can be found at other
  articles.

13
Conclusion

• Overall, the Puerto Rican media is fairly
  advanced.
• This can be expected, because it is a part of the
  US.
• The media reflects on all different topics, aimed
  to appeal to all different types of people.

14
Works Cited Page

• Pictures
• http//www.princeton.edu/accion/pictures/puerto/p
  uertorico04.jpg
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.
  princeton.edu/accion/pictures/puerto/puertorico04
  .jpgimgrefurlhttp//www.princeton.edu/accion/pi
  ctures/puerto.htmh600w800sz57tbnidNY8rDGnu
  nKwJtbnh106tbnw142hlenstart179prev/imag
  es3Fq3DPuerto2BRico26start3D16026svnum3D10
  26hl3Den26lr3D26sa3DN
• Puerto Rico - Google Image Search
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//brav
  o.theothernewz.com/pictures/pr20.jpgimgrefurlhtt
  p//bravo.theothernewz.com/picturegalleryh710w
  943sz143tbnidnDnqoTmNCDEJtbnh110tbnw147h
  lenstart18prev/images3Fq3DPuerto2BRico26s
  vnum3D1026hl3Den26lr3D
• Google Image Result for http//soils.usda.gov/gall
  ery/photos/landscapes/high/puerto_rico.jpg
• Google Image Result for http//aiab.emuunlim.com/h
  oliday/puerto-rico.jpg
• Google Image Result for http//www.fodors.com/wire
  /archives/050208puertorico2.jpg
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.
  census.gov/robos/www/images/puerto-rico-big-flag.j
  pgimgrefurlhttp//www.census.gov/robos/www/emply
  .htmlh256w384sz10tbnidd12JZ2EUDY4Jtbnh7
  9tbnw119hlenstart1prev/images3Fq3DPuerto
  2BRico26svnum3D1026hl3Den26lr3D

15

• Other Information
• Puerto Rico Herald 17 September 2005.
  http//www.puertorico-herald.org/
• Puerto Rico The World Factbook 30 August 2005.
  18 September 2005. http//www.cia.gov/cia/publicat
  ions/factbook/geos/rq.html
• Welcome to Puerto Rico. 13 September 2005.
  20 September 2005. http//welcome.topuertorico.org
  /