Why did the U.S. attempt to add Puerto Rico as a state?

Question

What was the point? What was America gaining?

Please don't add any crap answers along the lines of "The U.S. was just trying to take over." Serious answers.

Thanks, everyone.

Answer 1

As a protectorate Puerto Rico enjoys all the privilege and protection of a state,,,without the taxes, That is why it's citizens consistently vote against state hood.

Answer 2

Puerto Rico was "won" in the Spanish-American war in the late 19th Century, along with Cuba, the Phillippines, and Guam. All of these acquisitions were strategic for the protection of U.S. interests (just a fact). Puerto Rico and Guam have been territories/protectorates of the United States ever since. Cuba and the Phillipines demanded and were eventually granted independence from the U.S., but there has never been a majority movement in Puerto Rico or Guam to accomplish the same thing. Puerto Rico is not a state, and the citizens have continued to vote down statehood.

Answer 3

US invaded Puerto Rico in 1898 during the spanish-american war.
A military-colony regime was established. During this period (1898-1948) US tried to assimilate puerto ricans but it was a huge failure and puerto ricans were oposing the colonial regime from the start.
Puerto Rico since 1952 is a self governing commonwealth in an association with the US. US has never offered PR statehood and that option has never won a referendum in Puerto Rico

Answer 4

the us didnt puerto rico applied for ststehood and it was rejected

Answer 5

The US didn't try to add PR as a state. The Purto Ricans did and they were REJECTED.

Answer 6

To keep control of the Panama Canal .