Puerto Rico in the Age of Empire: Pirates, Revolts, and the Fight for Autonomy

Year(s) Discussed: 1815-1898

In the first part of this conversation, I am joined by Joe Pascone of the Turning Tides Podcast to trace Puerto Rico’s history from the post-Napoleonic era through the rise of nationalism, rebellion, and colonial resistance. We explore the island’s shifting political status, the legacy of piracy and slavery, and how Puerto Rico became a crucial but often overlooked part of larger Atlantic world struggles. This opening half sets up the central question of the episode: how did Puerto Rico’s fight for autonomy get eclipsed by empire?

More information can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

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