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El grito de Lares, which is also known as the Lares Rebellion, or Cry of Lares, took place in the town of Lares in Puerto Rico, in 1868. While the Spanish colony was planing to rule the Dominican Republic, they also intended to conquer Puerto Rico. Way back in th 1500's after Christopher Colon discovered the island of Puerto Rico, preceding leaders such as Juan Ponce de Leon took control over the people and began settling. From there on, the Spanish continued to rule over many places in Puerto Rico.
 * Storyline[[image:lares2.jpg align="right" caption="City of Lares, Puerto Rico"]]**

Although several times the Puerto Rican went against their power, it wasn't significant enough to make the change they wanted. In September 23 of 1868, a group lead by Ramon Emeterio Betances planned to rebell the Spanish militia. Along with participants such as Mariana Bracetti, who helped sew the revolutionary flag of Lares, Manuel Rojas, and many other citizens that were landowners, prisoners or professionals, they marched to Lares. Unfortunately, Ramon Betances forgot the weapons that the party was going to use. Thus, the party ended up getting defeated by the Spanish militia. Ramon Emeterio was a doctor who, before this revolt, had found a society that was dedicated in freeing slaves.
 * Leaders take action**

More than 300 people were imprisoned, others were able to escape, but many were killed at that time. Those who had escaped went back, just when the Spanish governor assigned them to chase them and to get rid of them. Shortly after, the Spanish gave amnesty for killing so many people. Although they did apologize, the Spanish intended in giving all the prisoners that participated in the revolt a death penalty for "treason and sedition." Luckily, governor Jose Laureano Sanz released them before hand in 1869. Mariana Bracetti was among those who got imprisoned, believed in woman's rights.

After the revolt, there was still protest from the people of Puerto Rico about their limited political rights, the harsh taxes, high poverty, and slavery. The reason for harsh taxing was because the Spanish government needed the funds in order to regain power over Dominican Republic. In 1873, Slavery was abolished by the First Spanish Republic and more than 20,000 slaves were free. New political rights were given to the islanders. Another of the benefits from the event is that they were given citizenship rights. Finally, El Grito De Lares became a national holiday for Puerto Rico to remember their tremendous effort and sacrifice to come to today.
 * The Results**

Although the Cry of Lares shows the island of Puerto Rico being defeated by the Spanish Empire, it shows another side of them that is positive and unlike the stereotypes. Puerto Rico is seen as a working people together who stand up for their rights.

[|National Anthem of Puerto Rico: click here]

Bibliography:
[|El Boricua] [|Britannica] [|Puerto Rico-History] [|Bamboo Web] [|infoplease.com]