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Puerto Rico: Difference between revisions
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{{Useful Notes}}
[[File:rq-map_4604.gif|frame]]
Stuck right between regions - sometimes it's the smallest of the Greater Antilles, sometimes the largest of the Lesser - '''Puerto Rico''', a mere 110 miles by 40 miles if measuring loosely, is one of two current [[The United States|United States]] commonwealths/semi-autonomous territories. This has some indefinite difference with simple territories (such as [[Guam]]), but legally works out to the same as the United States Constitution does not recognize a "commonwealth" as a true status.
The island's first inhabitants were the Tainos, tribesmen similar to those of South America, but less aggressive. When the Spanish found the island (in Colombus' second trip to the New World) the Tainos believed them to be gods (similar to what happened with Cortez in Mexico) and submitted to them, until they got suspicious and decided to try drowning one of them to see if he was immortal. Of course, he proved not to be, leading to an uprising against the invaders, but they were no match for them and ended up enslaved and eventually absorbed into the local gene pool (a similar fate was suffered by the African slaves.) Puerto Ricans today are proud of their multicultural origins, as can be seen in everything from its towns (some still bearing Taino names) to the African rhythms of the local music.
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