Grito de Lares

Quick Facts: Who was Grito de Lares?

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Grito de Lares

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The first major revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico, marking a pivotal moment for island identity.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Grito de Lares (Cry of Lares), also referred to as the Lares revolt, or the Lares revolution, was the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico, staged by the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico on September 23, 1868. Three decades after its uprising in Lares, the committee carried out a second unsuccessful revolt in the neighboring southwestern municipality of Yauco, known as the Intentona de Yauco (Attempted Coup of Yauco). The Grito de Lares flag is recognized as the first flag of Puerto Rico. In the 1860s, the government of Spain was involved in several conflicts across Latin America. It became involved in a war with Peru and Chile and had to address slave revolts in Cuba.

Career & Major Achievements

At the time, Puerto Rico and Cuba also suffered a severe economic crisis because of increasing tariffs and taxes imposed by the Spanish central government on most import and export goods. The Spanish crown needed the funds badly to subsidize its troops in the Dominican Republic, which Spain had annexed in 1861, only to leaving in 1865 following the Dominican Restoration War. In mid-19th century Puerto Rico, many supporters of independence from Spain, as well as others who did not support independence from Spain but simply called for liberal reforms, were jailed or exiled. However, in 1865, the central government in Madrid, finally attempted to appease the growing discontent in all its overseas provinces by setting up a "board of review" to receive complaints from provincial representatives. The board, the Junta Informativa de Reformas de Ultramar (Informative Board on Overseas Reforms) would be formed by representatives of each overseas province in proportion to their collective population.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The board would meet in Madrid and report to the Minister of State (Ministro de Estado), Emilio Castelar. The Puerto Rican delegation was freely elected by those eligible to vote (male white property owners) in what was one of the first exercises of political openness in Spain. The separatist Segundo Ruiz Belvis was elected to the Junta representing Mayagüez, which horrified the governor of Puerto Rico as well as most of residents of the island since the majority of Puerto Ricans did not support independence from Spain. To the frustration of the Puerto Rican delegates, including their leader José Julián Acosta, the Junta had a majority of mainland Spain-born delegates, which would vote down almost every measure they suggested, including the measure on the abolition of slavery. However, Acosta could convince the Junta that abolition could be achieved in Puerto Rico without disrupting the local economy, including its Cuban members, who frowned upon implementing it in Cuba because of its much higher numbers of slave labor.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1861: 1861 Milestone — The Spanish crown needed the funds badly to subsidize its troops in the Dominican Republic, which Spain had annexed in 1861, only to leaving in 1865 following the Dominican Restoration War.
2. 1865: 1865 Milestone — However, in 1865, the central government in Madrid, finally attempted to appease the growing discontent in all its overseas provinces by setting up a "board of review" to receive complaints from provincial representatives.
3. 1868: 1868 Milestone — Grito de Lares (Cry of Lares), also referred to as the Lares revolt, or the Lares revolution, was the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico, staged by the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico on September 23, 1868.

Notable Quotes by Grito de Lares

“Nadie puede dar lo que no tiene”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Grito de Lares

True or False: “The Grito de Lares flag was designed by Mariana Bracetti and embroidered by Eduviges Beauchamp Sterling.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Mariana Bracetti managed the encrypted communications, it was Eduviges Beauchamp Sterling who is credited with embroidering the flag.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdülmecid II — Historical peer (Born in 1868) (1868): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Adah Isaacs Menken — Historical peer (Died in 1868) (1868): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.
• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• A. P. Hill — Historical peer (Died in 1865) (1865): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Historical peer (Born in 1865) (1865): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.

Frequently Asked Questions about Grito de Lares