Spanish American War: change of sovereignty
A selection of portraits of historical figures and war objects elaborates a visual essay on relevant moments in history through the Spanish American War
A selection of portraits of historical figures and war objects elaborates a visual essay on relevant moments in history when the United States of America, a nation with the ambition to become a global–dominant player, is in an unstoppable quest...
...while the Spanish Kingdom is no longer sustainable as a dominant force.
Charles H. Allen (1901) by Francisco Oller y CesteroInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Charles Herbert Allen was the governor of Puerto Rico from May 1, 1900–September 15, 1901. Allen was an American politician, businessman, and member of the Republican Party.
After serving in state and federal elected positions as a member of the Mass House of Representatives and later of the Massachusetts Senate, he served as the first United States-appointed civilian governor of Puerto Rico after Congress passed The Foraker Law on April 12, 1900.
Allen was succeeded by William Henry Hunt.
John Rutter Brooke (1899) by Francisco Oller y CesteroInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
John Rutter Brooke was the first governor of Puerto Rico under American sovereignty. Brooke was the Major General assigned to command the 1st Corps of the Army during the Spanish American War.
The General arrived in Puerto Rico in August 1898 through Arroyo and reached Guayama by the time the armistice was signed. By October a new government was established and Brooke became Military Governor and head of the army of occupation in the US Military Government.
Luis Muñoz Rivera (20th century) by Fernando Díaz MckennaInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Luis Muñoz Rivera was a Puerto Rican politician, journalist, and poet. In 1889 he founded the newspaper La Democracia.
At the outbreak of the Spanish American War, he held the position of Secretary of Grace and Justice, and of the Interior, of the new government under the Autonomous Charter, granted in November 1897.
From 1911 to 1916, he held the position of Resident Commissioner in Washington for the Partido Unión de PR. Because of its military strategic location, Puerto Rico played an important part in the political and military affairs depicted on the artworks and objects on view.
Headway over Guayama (1898) by Julio LlortInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
The militia landed at Puerto de Arroyo and camped near the center of the town of Guayama. Military officers stayed at the Mayor's house, now known as the Casa Cautiño Museum.
Flag of the Batallón de Cazadores, Alfonso XIII (19th Century) by UnknownInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Chasseurs were soldiers intended to serve as light troops, either by companies attached to line regiments or separate, forming independent units.
Trumpet (United States) (19th Century)Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Hunters were distinguished from other troops by their tactics, weapons, uniforms, and insignia: instead of fighting in a closed line, they fought dispersed and protected themselves from the accidents on terrain to spot, harass and outflank the enemy in support of line troops.
Military jacket (1898)Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
The volunteer militia also wore the same uniform–known as rayadillo uniform or thousand stripes–a light cotton denim fabric that was appropriate for the tropics, with a turn-down collar, seven brass buttons, and a small badge on the front.
The jacket also had a cornet–shaped insignia, with the regimental number on both sides of the collar, added green wool collars and cuffs, with small yellow braids on the cuffs, which the regular troops only used on gala occasions.
Infantryman provisions bag (19th Century)Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
The bag held provisions for a soldier or infantryman, during the Spanish American War in Puerto Rico.
