Puerto Rico cont.
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While that debate wears on, Puerto Rico will likely remain an exotic destination for mainland Americans. Actually, some visitors to Puerto Rico may be shocked to find that the territory has embraced quite a few U.S. cultural institutions. Of course, many of those institutions are found in the territories’ tourist-heavy areas.
Still, a new generation of Puerto Ricans is adopting more and more U.S. customs in a bid for statehood. Until that day comes, Puerto Rico will remain best-known for its beautiful women, incredible climate, and exceptional nightlife.
The Virgin Islands
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The history of the Virgin Islands reveals the dark side of colonialism. For years, the territory was treated as a hub for slave trade. Many of those slaves stayed in the region to work its many sugar cane fields. When Virgin Island slavery was abolished in 1848, an estimated 17,000 slaves remained unfreed.
The Virgin Islands road to recovery has been a long one. In 1976, President Gerald Ford ordered The Virgin Islands to organize a government and create a constitution. Since then, the representatives of the territory have been unable to do so. Their last attempt came when they submitted a constitutional draft in 2010. However, that draft was rejected by the U.S. government.