Our landless patria : marginal citizenship and race in Caguas, Puerto Rico, 1880-1910

Our Landless Patria examines issues of race and citizenship in Puerto Rico, tracing how the process of land privatization accelerated a series of struggles for natural resources between the poorest sectors of society and the landed elite. The laws of privatization favored the landed elite and barred former slaves and their descendants from obtaining a formal title to a piece of land. In response, people of color developed an alternative citizenship that validated their livelihood, putting in motion a series of civil claims that protected people’s mobility rights and their access to land. However, the rural poor’s claims for a more egalitarian society, or what Rosa E. Carrasquillo calls “marginal citizenship,” could not successfully transform the political exclusion of the racially mixed population because of its heavy borrowing from the Spanish legal system. In particular, marginal citizenship adopted patriarchy as a model to regulate social relations at home, failing to address gender inequalities and perpetuating class differences.Our Landless Patria deciphers the late nineteenth-century structure of power in the Spanish colonial state at the local level and illuminates the way ordinary people experienced day-to-day relations of power. Carrasquillo's analysis makes a strong case that the poorest sector of rural society provided the fertile ground in which a civic consciousness developed. (20080623) Our Landless Patria Examines Issues Of Race And Citizenship In Puerto Rico, Tracing How The Process Of Land Privatization Accelerated A Series Of Struggles For Natural Resources Between The Poorest Sectors Of Society And The Landed Elite. The Laws Of Privatization Favored The Landed Elite And Barred Former Slaves And Their Descendants From Obtaining A Formal Title To A Piece Of Land. In Response, People Of Color Developed An Alternative Citizenship That Validated Their Livelihood, Putting In Motion A Series Of Civil Claims That Protected People's Mobility Rights And Their Access To Land. However, The Rural Poor's Claims For A More Egalitarian Society, Or What Rosa E. Carrasquillo Calls Marginal Citizenship, Could Not Successfully Transform The Political Exclusion Of The Racially Mixed Population Because Of Its Heavy Borrowing From The Spanish Legal System. In Particular, Marginal Citizenship Adopted Patriarchy As A Model To Regulate Social Relations At Home, Failing To Address Gender Inequalities And Perpetuating Class Differences.--jacket. Mapping Caguas, Mapping The Country: The Political And Economic Bases Of Citizenship -- From Crown To Citizen: Local Politics And Centralization -- In The Face Of Inequality: Land Privatization And Racial Hierarchies -- Stepping Toward Liberation: Defense Of Mobility Rights And Race -- Marginal But Not Equal: Gender And Citizenship. Rosa E. Carrasquillo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [181]-196) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction: No Ground to Rest......Page 14 1. Mapping Caguas, Mapping the Country......Page 28 2. From Crown to Citizen......Page 49 3. In the Face of Inequality......Page 67 4. Stepping toward Liberation......Page 93 5. Marginal but Not Equal......Page 117 Conclusion: Toward an Inclusive Citizenship......Page 140 Appendix A: Comparison of Farm Sizes in the Barrios of Caguas, 1880-1900......Page 146 Appendix B: Land Distribution by Farm Size in Caguas, 1880-1910......Page 148 Appendix C: Municipal Government of Caguas, 1880-1903......Page 150 Appendix D: Ordinance for the Comisarios of Caguas’s Rural Barrios......Page 156 Appendix E: Love Letters......Page 158 Appendix F: Love Letters......Page 160 Notes......Page 162 Bibliography......Page 208 Index......Page 224