Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The 1917 Jones Act was significant for Puerto Rico as it granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans. This act marked a pivotal moment in the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States, as it extended citizenship to the residents of the island, allowing them certain rights and privileges that came with U.S. citizenship.

Prior to the Jones Act, Puerto Rico had been a territory of the U.S. since 1898 but did not have the same rights as U.S. citizens. The act also made provisions for a more structured government in Puerto Rico, which included a locally elected legislature, but this structure remained under the overall authority of the U.S. government, thus not establishing complete independence or local government free from U.S. control.

While the Jones Act did move Puerto Rico in the direction of more local governance, it did not lead to independence, nor did it focus on the abolition of colonial practices as a primary goal. The primary accomplishment of the 1917 Jones Act was, therefore, the granting of citizenship, which was a significant development in the political and social landscape of Puerto Rico during that period.