What It Was Really Like For Native Americans Who Traveled To Europe
By Sarah Crocker/Feb. 24, 2021 1:26 pm EDT
Much has been made of the various European-led conquests, expeditions, and contacts that deeply changed the fabric of Native American life beginning centuries ago. Whether that s Christopher Columbus arriving in what s now Puerto Rico in 1493, Vikings settling down in Canada, or any other similar tale, however, that s not the whole story. As it turns out, the Atlantic Ocean has never been a one-way only journey. Plenty of people have been moving both west and east across its waters, including quite a few Native Americans who undertook wide-ranging voyages.
How The United States Got Control Of Puerto Rico Shutterstock
By Daniel Leonard/Jan. 11, 2021 3:42 pm EDT
Every American school kid learns that the United States is made up of 50 states. If you ever forget that fact, don t worry, you can always count the number of stars on the U.S. flag. But, in reality, America is more complicated than the flag implies; besides 50 states, the United States also possesses a number of unincorporated territories. With a population of over 3 million (per the U.S. Census), the island of Puerto Rico is by far the largest of America s non-state territories.
Puerto Rico has a vibrant history; its food, dance, and music have had a great impact on the culture of the continental United States. And yet, despite its influence, Puerto Rico is often sidelined in U.S. politics; as a territory, it lacks voting representation in Congress. So, let s consider how Puerto Rico came to be part of the United States, and why Puerto Ricans remain second-