Territorial Limbo
After the Spanish-American War, the U.S. annexed Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, sparking a complex debate over their status. A Supreme Court case regarding duties on Puerto Rican oranges revealed that these territories were neither fully foreign nor fully part of the U.S., creating a unique "in between" status. This ambiguity, rooted in racial dynamics and historical precedents like the Guano Islands Act, highlights the challenges of defining national identity and territorial belonging.In this clip
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99% Invisible
Guano Island
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