Third, the Spanish Royal Decree of Graces of 1815 attracted numerous European immigrants to Puerto Rico. It encouraged any citizen of a country politically friendly to Spain to settle in Puerto Rico as long as they converted to the Catholic faith and agreed to work in the agricultural business. With such mass migrations, not only the size of the town was changed, but the character of its population was changed as well. Europeans, including many Protestants, immigrated from a variety of nations.Francisco A. Scarano. Puerto Rico: Cinco Siglos de Historia. McGraw-Hill/Interamericana Editores, S.A. de C. V. 2000. Pages 407-490. On July 29, 1848, and as a result of this explosive growth, the Ponce hamlet was declared a villa (village) by Queen Isabella II,"Ponce: Founding and History." Puerto Rico Encyclopedia. Declared a Villa. Retrieved 22 November 2009."Ponce: Fundación e Historia." Encyclopedia Puerto Rico (In Spanish) Declared villa (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 November 2009. and in 1877 the village obtained its city charter.Museo Castillo Serralles: Historia. Declared city. Retrieved 22 November 2009.Carta del Rey al Gobernador de Puerto Rico Sobre la Erección en Villa de los Pueblos de Ponce, Coamo, Arecibo, Aguaga, y Loiza. PReb.com: Puerto Rico en Breve. (In Spanish) Cédula Real. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
third the spanish royal decree of graces of 1815 attracted numerous european immigrants to puerto rico it encouraged any citizen of a country politically friendly to spain to settle in puerto rico as long as they converted to the catholic faith and agreed to work in the agricultural business with such mass migrations not only the size of the town was changed but the character of its population was changed as well europeans including many protestants immigrated from a variety of nationsfrancisco a scarano puerto rico cinco siglos de historia mcgraw-hill/interamericana editores sa de c v 2000 pages 407-490 on july 29 1848 and as a result of this explosive growth the ponce hamlet was declared a villa (village) by queen isabella ii"ponce founding and history" puerto rico encyclopedia declared a villa retrieved 22 november 2009"ponce fundación e historia" encyclopedia puerto rico (in spanish) declared villa (in spanish) retrieved 22 november 2009 and in 1877 the village obtained its city chartermuseo castillo serralles historia declared city retrieved 22 november 2009carta del rey al gobernador de puerto rico sobre la erección en villa de los pueblos de ponce coamo arecibo aguaga y loiza prebcom puerto rico en breve (in spanish) cédula real retrieved 22 november 2009