La presencia de la Guardia Civil en Puerto Rico (1869-1898)creación, organización y servicios

Abstract

The main objective of the thesis is to determine the reasons that led to the creation of the Guardia Civil in Puerto Rico, after the first failed attempts to start with, and to examine how its implementation developed. In addition, it delves into the knowledge of the Institution on the Island through the analysis of itsorganization, personnel regime, missions entrusted and services provided. At the beginning of the second half of the Nineteenth (19th) century, the situation of insecurity that existed in the Overseas provinces was increasing. The inefficiency shown by those institutions in charge of ensuring public tranquility evidenced the need to organize a police force to respond to this problem. The success the Guardia Civil had achieved since its creation in 1844 in eradicating the banditry that plagued the Spanish roads and fields, together with the discipline and professionalism of its men, made the Corps model the one chosen to be implanted in the Antilles and the Philippines. This process was developed in two well-distinguished stages. The first one extended from the elaboration of the initial projects for its creation until its definitive start-up (Cuba 1854, Philippines, 1868 and Puerto Rico 1869). The second was the enactment of the Amalgam Law of 1871, which unified the Guardia Civil of the Antilles with its peninsular counterpart into a unique Corps, and which represented its consolidation on the other side of the Atlantic...