Puerto Rico; The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World (pages 1-20)

     The rich history of Puerto Rico's starts with its original Taíno natives and continues today today with the U.S's control over what is known as the oldest colony in the world. The book, Puerto Rico; The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World, was written by José Trías Monge a native of Puerto Rico who graduated from  Harvard University with a M.A and L.L.B and a S.J.D from Yale. José has played an active role in Puerto Rico's government and politics since the 1930's. He was one of the people involved in the drafting of Puerto Rico's Commonwealth status, and he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico.
     On November 19, 1493, Christopher Columbus, the first European on the island, found a land occupied by the Taíno Indians. The Taínos were Arawak Indians, at the time when Columbus came they had a hierarchical political structure, organized agriculture techniques, hunting and fishing skills, and could count to twenty (they counted with their fingers and toes). However they had no calender or Writing system, and have not yet discovered the wheel, creating an easy concur by the Spaniards.
     In 1508 when the ecomienda system was placed upon the island indians were distributed within the Spaniards as slaves. This cause the Taínos to disappear, most dies in great number, and the surviver moved to the hill or even left the island. though they did mix with the Spaniards creating mulattos. Howver when the Taínos disappear the Spaniards just brought ovber Black slaves. The census of 1530 on the Island included 327 white families, 2,242 slaves(black) and 473 indians(not including those outside of the encomienda system). though, even with the Disappearance of most of the Taíno's they didnt leave without leaving thier mark. Alot of Spanish words are from the Taíno's tounge, examples would include tobacco, barbecue, canoe and hammock.
Quote: "The Spanish language had to compete with English for a long time to assure its survival as the primary language of Puerto Rico.(pg. 19)"
Reaction: This is an interesting quote because it is still true today. Even though Spanish seems to be the language of the island, english is still taking its toll on the inhabitants. Now in Puerto Rico, students, such as my two sisters, learn english in school, just like i'm currently learning spanish in school. It is hard to keep a certain language alive when there is always one that you will know better. I do know how to speak spanish and I do get to practice outside of school at home, when I go to Puerto Rico and when I have a family member move to the U. S who does not know english, but I still know Englash far better. It is sort of like the U.S's problem in decideing the National Language, yes almost every person in america speaks english and yes english is the language of most companies and conversations but, as a diverse country who has alot of other language being spoken, the U.S has not declared a National Language.