ABSTRACT
In Puerto Rico, the classical colonization undergone by the Spanish American colonies centuries earlier was just beginning at the end of the eighteenth century, while in Spanish America it was coming to an end. In Spanish America, the new imperial policy helped to accelerate the ongoing process of alienation, culminating in the wars for independence, while in Puerto Rico the same policy served to insure Spain's control over the island. With the outbreak of war in Spanish America, Puerto Rico became increasingly more important to Spain, as it could be used once again as a military base of operations as well as a "showcase" for Spanish goodwill and reforms. The Crown applied some variations in the colonial policy that alternated between liberal offerings and strict controls. During the war years in Spanish America, Spain found it expedient to shower Puerto Rico with reforms.
