ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in United States. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in United States. Puerto Rico acquired the status of a commonwealth of the United States following approval by plebiscite in 1952. As US citizens, Puerto Ricans are guaranteed all civil liberties granted in the United States. The island's relationship with the US remains a fundamental issue. In a nonbind-ing 1993 referendum, voters narrowly opted to retain commonwealth status. Since mid-1993, about 80 public housing projects, or about two-fifths of the total, have been under the control of the National Guard, the first time US military units have been routinely deployed to fight crime.
