In article ,
"Keith Willshaw" writes:

"Harry Andreas" wrote in message
...
In article , "George Z. Bush"
wrote:

I also seem to recall Puerto Rico was a Spanish Colony prior to 1898

Now that you mention it, didn't the Philippines get their independence
from us
post WWII? What were they after we took them from Spain and until we
turned
them loose?

A protectorate.
As Puerto Rico still is (at their own decision).


I think you'll find it's a commonwealth.

Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky are all called
"Commonwealths" as well, but that's got little to do with their status
as States.
We don't have a specific definition of Commonwealth in this context.


--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster