The U.S. Didn’t Save Puerto Rico’s Economy — It Dismantled It This video exposes how the United States systematically dismantled Puerto Rico’s coffee-based economy after 1898, breaking down colonial policy, tariffs, currency changes, and economic decisions that reshaped Puerto Rican history and fueled long-term displacement and migration to the United States. Puerto Rican economic history Puerto Rico coffee industry history U.S. colonial impact on Puerto Rico Puerto Rican agriculture destruction