[1] From 1898 to 1900, Puerto Rico was governed by four military officers: Commanding General Nelson A.

Almost immediately, the United States began the "Americanization" process of Puerto Rico.

The U.S. occupation brought about a total change in Puerto Rico's economy and polity and did not apply American republicanism to the colony.

Senator George Frisbie Hoar described Puerto Ricans as "uneducated, simple-minded and harmless people who were only interested in wine, women, music and dancing" and recommended that Spanish should be abolished in the island's schools and only English should be taught.

[3] Schools became the primary vehicle of Americanization, and initially all classes were taught in English, which also made for a large dropout rate.