Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Rep.Culture

Language VariationsCelebrations

DietHistory

Mi Boricqueña• Also known as “La Isla del Encanto” (The

Charming Island)• Lets consider that the people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and

racial mix. During the early 18-century, the Spaniard in order to populate the country took Taino Indian women as brides. Later on as labor was needed to maintain crops and build roads, African slaves were imported, followed by the importation of Chinese immigrants, then continued with the arrival of Italians, French, German, and even Lebanese people. American expatriates came to the island after 1898. Long after Spain had lost control of Puerto Rico, Spanish immigrants continued to arrive on the island. The most significant new immigrant population arrived in the 1960s, when thousands of Cubans fled from Fidel Castro's Communist state. The latest arrivals to Puerto Rico have come from the economically depressed Dominican Republic. This historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico

practically without racial problems (very close to but not completely).

Dominican Culture• The Dominican Republic became a nation on 27 February 1844

when a group of revolutionaries seized power from the Haitian rulers of the island of Hispaniola.

• When Christopher Columbus first discovered the island in 1492, he named it La Isla Española, which became Hispaniola. A few years later the city of Santo Domingo became the Spanish capital of the New World, and because of its location in the trade winds, it was the gateway to the Caribbean. France gained a foothold on the western end of the island, which became prosperous, and by 1795 Spain ceded the entire island to France. By 1804 the black African slaves in the western portion of the island (now Haiti) rebelled against the French and ruled the entire island. French troops eventually reclaimed the island, but were able to occupy only the western end. In 1838 a small group of Spanish-speaking Dominican intellectuals from Santo Domingo organized a secret society called La Trinitaria to overthrow the Haitian rule. The society was established by Juan Pablo Duarte, the son of a wealthy Dominican family. After the overthrow, Pedro Santana, one of the leaders in the revolution, became the first president of the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rican Day Parade

• Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC (June 13th)

• Proud Puerto Rican community for music, food, dance, and marching politicians and celebrities, including photo exhibits, concerts, parties, and more…

Dominican Day Parade• Dominican Day

Parade (August 9th)

• Proud Dominican community for music, food, dance, and marching politicians and celebrities, including photo exhibits, concerts, parties, and more…

Diet Variations

• Mofongo (not to be confused with the beef tripe soup known as mondongo) The caplike mass of mashed plantains perched atop the pilón is shot through with plenty of porky goodness and packs a garlicky wallop that stayed with me for hours. Just in case there isn’t enough chiccharon in the mofongo itself, there’s some more on the side. Place a chunk or two on top of the mofongo, pour some of the broth on and, think of it as a meaty ice cream sundae.

• Sancocho, which is a stew created with roots, plantains, chicken or beef, and avocado, chicharrones de pollo, which is deep fried diced chicken, and ropo viega, which is fried shredded beef with rice and salad.

• Most puerto rican and dominican dishes are the same, these are only examples to what they mostly eat, which is rice, pork, beans, ect…

Puerto Rican History• The ancient history of Puerto Rico begins with the ancient Amerindians that

first made the island their home. • Puerto Rican history took its most drastic turn. It was the year the Tainos

would see their first white man. • Colonized and enslaved by Spanish settlers, by 1508 the island was entirely

under Spanish occupation, and Ponce De Leon was named the first governor of Puerto Rico.

• The Tainos were unable to endure the harsh conditions of slavery, and the European diseases brought across the Atlantic wreaked havoc with their immune systems - before long they were quickly replaced by slaves shipped over from Africa.

• That is, until 1897, when political pressure forced the European nation to grant Puerto Rico (and Cuba) autonomy. But this freedom would only last a tiny fraction of Puerto Rican history.

• The Spanish-American War began in 1898 and ended with the Puerto Ricans finding themselves under U.S. martial law. The history of Puerto Rico would now take another significant turn, as the island gradually garnered more and more autonomous power. First, they were allowed to elect their own House of Representatives (though they wouldn't be allowed to elect their own governor until 1948), and then given full U.S. citizenship. Harry S. Truman finally made the island an official commonwealth of the United States

• Puerto Rico history began to shape into what we see now. Though the political status of Puerto Rico remains a debate topic across the island, it seems like the title of commonwealth is a slightly more popular option. Politicians hoping to make Puerto Rico the 51st state continue to make their voice heard, as well as those seeking complete independence.

Dominican History• Long before the Dominican Republic was the tourist destination it is

today it was home to Taino Indians that lived here quite peaceable. In 1492, Columbus discovered the islands and named the island Hispaniola.

• Columbus noted not only the gold that was found in the rivers but how the Indians lived in peace and never quarreled among themselves.

• However, this peaceful culture was soon to be destroyed. The crew that stayed behind created a settlement, Navidad. Unlike the peaceful Indians, they fought among one another even resulting in the death of many of their members. The Spaniards began to take women from the peaceful Indians and forced them into slavery. The chief of the Taino, Caonabo, could not stand what was happening and attacked the settlement. By the time, Columbus returned in a few months, all of the crew had been killed.

• French giving portions of the island back to Spain in 1809. In 1882, the Haitian's took over the island to rid the island of slavery. By, 1844, Spain once again controlled 2/3 of Hispaniola.

• America relinquished control and by 1930, the Dominican Republic had a dictator in control. The Dominican Republic history has not been a pleasant one, however, the friendly people of the Dominican Republic have turned the area into a wonderful tourist destination with much to offer just like when Christopher Columbus discovered the magnificent tropical beauty that is found in the Dominican Republic .

Websites

• http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtml

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Puerto_Rico

• http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35639.htm

• http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/history.php