Two Cultures, One Island

Two Cultures, One Island

As time passed, American culture began to influence Puerto Rican culture. On the one hand, this was due to the process of Americanization. This was the process by which American culture was introduced to Puerto Rico. To do this, English started being taught in schools. Moreover, children had to sing the national anthem and salute to the American flag every morning before class began.

​​In schools, classes were taught in English for years.

Multiple Choice

What does Americanization mean?

• the process by which American culture was introduced to Cuba

• the process by which American culture was introduced to Puerto Rico

• the process by which American culture was introduced to Spain

• the process by which Korean culture was introduced to Puerto Rico

Multiple Select

What three changes were used to introduce the American culture to Puerto Rican schools ?

• English language was taught

• Sing the American national anthem

• salute the American flag

• Sing the Spanish national anthem

• Korean language was taught

Another cultural change in Puerto Rico was the result of religion. Under Spanish government, Catholicism was the institutional religion in Puerto Rico. But with the arrival of the Americans, Protestantism also came to Puerto Rico. Groups of Protestant missionaries arrived at the island and mainly settled in the rural areas. One of the groups were Mennonites. These missionaries founded hospitals and preserved a record of how Puerto Ricans lived during the middle of the 20th century through photography.

In Puerto Rico it had been customary to take a nap or rest after lunch. After the Americans arrived, this custom began to disappear.

Multiple Choice

What was the main religion under the Spanish government before the Americans arrived to Puerto Rico?

• Catholic

• Protestant

• Buddhism

• Taoism

Multiple Choice

What religion did the Americans bring with them to Puerto Rico?

• Catholic

• Protestant

• Buddhism

• Taoism

Multiple Choice

What did the Mennonite missionaries found on our island?

• hospitals

• restaurants

• military bases

• firefighter stations

Multiple Choice

Mennonite missionaries founded hospitals and preserved a record of how Korea lived during the middle of the 20th century through photography.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Puerto Rican custom to take a nap or rest after lunch began to disappear After the Americans arrived.

• True

• False

Draw a comic strip that shows all the changes Puerto Rico went through after the Spanish-American War of 1898.

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