Why does the US still have Puerto Rico as a territory?

As Puerto Rico deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which has left millions without power, some are wondering: Is Puerto Rico part of the U.S.? Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean Sea, has been a territory of the United States since 1898, after the U.S. read more

To most mainland Americans or should I say mainland American citizens, they have no clue that PR is a US Territory and the inhabitants are all US citizens since 1917. Another benifit to the US is the fact that Puerto Ricans have been a part of the US Armed Forces and have fought in every war and campaign since WWI. read more

Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. It became a U.S. territory in 1898, when it was acquired from Spain after the Spanish-American War. With approximately 3.5 million residents, Puerto Rico is the most highly populated of all United States territories. read more

Today, Puerto Rico remains a commonwealth of the United States—a territory under the territorial clause in the United States Constitution. But, Puerto Rico’s relationship to the United States remains hotly debated. Puerto Ricans voted on their status in 1967, 1991, 1993, and 1998. read more