By Daniel Nardini
More than any Puerto Rican in the island’s modern history, Marin has been the guiding hand in the development of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico up to the present day. Jose Luis Alberto Munoz Marin was born on February 18, 1898, in Old San Juan. Marin’s father, Luis Munoz Rivera, was a poet, publisher and politician who campaigned for autonomy of Puerto Rico in the Spanish Empire. When the United States took over Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Rivera did not want to work with the American military government, and quit all of his posts he held under the Spanish in protest. Despite this, Rivera recognized that there was no possibility of Puerto Rico ever being returned to Spain again, and so Rivera founded the Unionist Party and was elected to the newly established House of Delegates in Puerto Rico. Rivera also founded the bilingual (in English and Spanish) newspaper Puerto Rico Herald.
As Marin grew up, Puerto Rico began to change from being a former Spanish colony to being a more distinctly autonomous entity within the United States. However, many Puerto Ricans believed that Puerto Rico should be a free and independent country. While Marin understood their feelings, he believed that Puerto Rico’s future lied with the United States. He was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate, and in 1949 he became the first freely elected governor in Puerto Rico’s history. During this time, Marin tried to steer Puerto Rico on a path of interdependence with the United States. By 1950, most Puerto Ricans believed that their best path forward was with the United States. However, a small group of radicals believed that Puerto Ricans should fight for independence. These radicals formed the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, which advocated for complete independence. In 1950, members of the Nationalist Party carried out an armed attack against the Puerto Rican Governor’s office. Marin was shot at, but because he hid under his desk he escaped harm. The Nationalist terrorists were eventually apprehended. Whatever sympathy Puerto Ricans may have had for the Nationalist Party largely evaporated.
Seeing the need to define what Puerto Rico’s status within the United States should be, Marin pushed for a commonwealth. Within the concept of a commonwealth, Puerto Rico would remain a part of the United States as an unincorporated territory.This way, the United States would have full control over Puerto Rico’s foreign relations, but Puerto Ricans could enjoy autonomy (i.e. run their own internal affairs). This framework for the status of Puerto Rico was approved by the Puerto Rican Congress, and most Puerto Ricans approved the measure by plebiscite to be part of a commonwealth with the United States.. On July 25, 1952, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was established, and Marin became the first official governor of the commonwealth. Marin would be reelected governor of Puerto Rico in 1956 and again in 1960. In 1962, Marin was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by then U.S. President John F. Kennedy for his service to the United States and Puerto Rico. Marin passed away on April 30, 1980, at the age of 80. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who remembered his life’s work and dedication to them.
Jose Luis Alberto Munoz Marin: Father of Modern Puerto Rico
By Daniel Nardini
As Marin grew up, Puerto Rico began to change from being a former Spanish colony to being a more distinctly autonomous entity within the United States. However, many Puerto Ricans believed that Puerto Rico should be a free and independent country. While Marin understood their feelings, he believed that Puerto Rico’s future lied with the United States. He was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate, and in 1949 he became the first freely elected governor in Puerto Rico’s history. During this time, Marin tried to steer Puerto Rico on a path of interdependence with the United States. By 1950, most Puerto Ricans believed that their best path forward was with the United States. However, a small group of radicals believed that Puerto Ricans should fight for independence. These radicals formed the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, which advocated for complete independence. In 1950, members of the Nationalist Party carried out an armed attack against the Puerto Rican Governor’s office. Marin was shot at, but because he hid under his desk he escaped harm. The Nationalist terrorists were eventually apprehended. Whatever sympathy Puerto Ricans may have had for the Nationalist Party largely evaporated.
Seeing the need to define what Puerto Rico’s status within the United States should be, Marin pushed for a commonwealth. Within the concept of a commonwealth, Puerto Rico would remain a part of the United States as an unincorporated territory.This way, the United States would have full control over Puerto Rico’s foreign relations, but Puerto Ricans could enjoy autonomy (i.e. run their own internal affairs). This framework for the status of Puerto Rico was approved by the Puerto Rican Congress, and most Puerto Ricans approved the measure by plebiscite to be part of a commonwealth with the United States.. On July 25, 1952, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was established, and Marin became the first official governor of the commonwealth. Marin would be reelected governor of Puerto Rico in 1956 and again in 1960. In 1962, Marin was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by then U.S. President John F. Kennedy for his service to the United States and Puerto Rico. Marin passed away on April 30, 1980, at the age of 80. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who remembered his life’s work and dedication to them.