Primary sourceDocument30 June 1903
Proclamation 503, Reserving Lands in Porto Rico
Theodore Roosevelt · 30 June 1903
A 1903 presidential proclamation signed by Roosevelt reserving public lands in Puerto Rico for government use.
Roosevelt signed this proclamation as President, exercising his authority over public lands in Puerto Rico.
About this source
What it is
This proclamation was issued by President Theodore Roosevelt on 30 June 1903, reserving certain public lands in Puerto Rico for military, naval, and other public uses, under authority granted by Congress the previous year.
Why it matters
The document shows how Roosevelt used presidential power over land management, an early example of the kind of conservation and administrative authority he exercised throughout his presidency. It also reflects the United States' governance of Puerto Rico in the years following the Spanish-American War.
Look closer
- What kinds of public uses does the proclamation list for the reserved lands?
- Why might the President, rather than Congress, be given this authority?
- What does this document suggest about the United States' relationship with Puerto Rico at the time?
This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Theodore Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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