Editing Compulsory sterilization (section)

=====1940s–1950s=====

Unemployment and widespread poverty would continue to grow in Puerto Rico in the 40s, both threatening U.S. private investment in Puerto Rico and acting as a deterrent for future investment.<ref name="Mass" /> In an attempt to attract additional U.S. private investment in Puerto Rico, another round of liberalizing trade policies were implemented and referred to as "[[Operation Bootstrap]]."<ref name="Mass" /> Despite these policies and their relative success, unemployment and poverty in Puerto Rico remained high, high enough to prompt an increase in [[emigration]] from Puerto Rico to the United States between 1950 and 1955.<ref name="Mass" /> The issues of [[immigration]], Puerto Rican poverty, and threats to U.S. private investment made population control concerns a prime political and social issue for the United States.<ref name="Mass" />

The 50s also saw the production of social science research supporting sterilization procedures in Puerto Rico.<ref name="Mass" /> Princeton's [[Office of Population Research]], in collaboration with the Social Research Department at the University of Puerto Rico, conducted interviews with couples regarding sterilization and other birth control.<ref name="Mass" /> Their studies concluded that there was a significant need and desire for permanent birth control among Puerto Ricans.<ref name="Mass" /> In response, Puerto Rico's governor and Commissioner of health opened 160 private, temporary birth control clinics with the specific purpose of sterilization.<ref name="Mass" />

Also during this era, private birth control clinics were established in Puerto Rico with funds provided by wealthy Americans.<ref name="Mass" /><ref name="Nick" /> [[Joseph Sunnen]], a wealthy American Republican and industrialist, established the [[Sunnen Foundation]] in 1957.<ref name="Mass" /><ref name="Nick" /> The foundation funded new birth control clinics under the title "La Asociación Puertorriqueña el Biensestar de la Familia" and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in an experimental project to determine if a formulaic program could be used to control population growth in Puerto Rico and beyond.<ref name="Mass" />