This book is a socioeconomic interpretation of Puerto Rico's first and most significant attempt to end its colonial relationship with Spain. Looking at the imperial policies and conditions within Puerto Rico that led to the 1868 rebellion known as "El Grito de Lares," Dr. Jiménez de Wagenheim compares the colonization of Puerto Rico with that of Spanish America and explores the reasons why the island's independence movement began decades after Spain's other colonies in the region had revolted. Through the extensive use of previously unresearched archive material, she examines the economic and social backgrounds of the leaders of the rebel movement, corrects many errors of earlier accounts of the revolt, and offers new interpretations of its impact on Spanish-Puerto Rican relations.