1493 Christopher Columbus discovers Puerto Rico

1586 Spain decrees Puerto Rico is to receive economic aid, historically knows as "Situado Mexicano".

1765 Spain lifts some trade & commerce restrictions; first official census taken.

1810 First elected Deputy to the Spanish Court, Ramón Power y Giralt, is sent to Spain.

1868 A failed uprising against the Spanish Crown takes place in the town of Lares. (Grito de Lares).

1869 The first political parties are established.

1873 Slavery is abolished.

1897 Puerto Rico is granted a Letter of Autonomy from Spain, allowing it to enter into free commerce with The United States and European colonies.

1898 As a result of the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico becomes a territory of the United States.

1900 The Foraker Act (Organic Act of 1900) regulates de political & economic relations between Puerto Rico and the U.S. and organizes a civil government.

1903 The university of Puerto Rico is founded.

1917 Jones Act grants U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and provides for the creation of a local Senate.

1928 Women's right to vote recognized.

1940 The Popular Democratic Party wins control of the Senate; begins a change in the political orientation.

1946 Jesús T. Piñero becomes the first Puerto Rican to be appointed governor.

1948 The first election for governor is held. Luis Múñoz Marín becomes the first Puerto Rican elected governor. 

The island participates in the Olympic Games.

1952 The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is constituted.

1967 A status plebiscite is held; the Commonwealth formula receives 60.41% of the vote, the statehood formula 38.98% and the independence formula 0.6%.

1968 After 28 years in power, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) is defeated by the New Progressive Party (PNP), which favors statehood status. Luis A. Ferre, founder of the NPP, becomes governor.

1972 PDP wins the elections; Rafael Hernández Colón is elected governor.

1976 NPP wins the elections; Carlos Romero Barceló is elected governor.

1979 the Pan American Games are held in Puerto Rico.

1980 Romero Barceló (NPP) is re-elected governor. Luis Muñoz Marín dies.

1984 PDP wins the elections; Hernández Colón is elected governor.

1988 PDP wins the elections; Hernández Colón is re-elected governor.

1991 Spanish is declared the island's official language.

1992 NPP wins the elections. Dr. Pedro Rossello becomes governor and repeals the law declaring Spanish the official language. The official languages become Spanish & English.

1993 A second status plebiscite is held; the Commonwealth formula receives 48.58% votes, the statehood formula 46.34% and the independence formula 4.45%.

1996 NPP wins the elections. Pedro Rossello is re-elected governor.

1998 A third status plebiscite is held; 50.3% of the voters select the none-of-the-above option, statehood receives 46.5%, independence 2.5%, free association 0.3% and Commonwealth 0.1%.

2000 PDP wins the elections; Sila M. Calderón becomes the first woman to be elected governor.

2001 Layman Carlos Manuel Rodríguez becomes the first Puerto Rican to be beatified. Pope John Paul II performs the ceremony in the Vatican.

2003 Roosevelt Roads U.S. Naval closes, former governor Luis A. Ferré dies.

2004 PDP wins the elections; Aníbal Acevedo Vilá is elected governor.