Selected Notes on Puerto Rico's History: From Spanish Possession to US Commonwealth

from Google AI:

As a result of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the subsequent Treaty of Paris, the United States acquired control over the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Spain relinquished sovereignty over these territories, marking the U.S.'s rise as a global power with overseas possessions. While Cuba gained independence, it was under U.S. influence.

The U.S. Senate approved the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952 to grant the island greater local autonomy—including the right to draft its own constitution—while maintaining U.S. sovereignty, aiming to neutralize rising independence movements and deflect international criticism of American "colonialism". This new status served to provide self-government by consent while keeping the island under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Key reasons for the creation of the Commonwealth (Estado Libre Asociado) included:

Political Self-Determination: Championed by Puerto Rico's first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, the arrangement allowed for a local constitution, a popularly elected governor, and a legislative assembly, fulfilling demands for self-rule without full statehood. 

International Image & Communism: The move provided a "convincing answer" to charges of imperialism and colonialism, bolstering the U.S. position in the United Nations during the Cold War by showing a, "non-self-governing territory" achieving self-government.

Economic Strategy: It helped manage the economic situation and allowed for continued, stable, and close economic relations with the United States.

Legal "Compact": Congress enacted Public Law 600 in 1950, which authorized the process, establishing a "compact" between the U.S. and the people of Puerto Rico.

While it granted a "full measure of self-government" in internal matters, it maintained the ultimate authority of Congress over the island.

In 1952, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico adopted the flag officially, changing the triangle's color from azul celeste (sky blue) to a dark navy blue to match the United States flag. This political move was intended to align the flag with the U.S. and strip it of its original association with revolutionary, pro-independence movements.

Key Reasons for the 1952 Puerto Rico Flag Color Change:

Political Alignment with the U.S.: The change to dark blue was designed to make the flag "resemble the U.S. flag," signaling a closer relationship with the United States. 

Removing Radical Symbolism: The original flag, featuring a light blue triangle, was designed in 1895 and associated with pro-independence, anti-colonialist sentiment, and was once illegal to fly.

Distancing from Past Conflict: By adopting a navy blue, the newly established Commonwealth government aimed to distance the flag from its rebellious history.

Flag Normalization: The 1952 adoption allowed the public to display the flag legally after decades of it being forbidden by the U.S. colonial government, but with the modified, darker color.

The original azul celeste (light blue) color, representing independence, continued to be used by pro-independence advocates, while the navy blue version was used by the government and those favoring statehood. In 1995, the Commonwealth government officially returned to a lighter shade of blue, though not as light as the original revolutionary, for official use.