1936-1939 was a tumultuous period in Puerto Rican history. The impact of the Great Depression and labor unrest among workers as the society transformed from an agricultural to an industrial society. The resulting social, cultural, and political effects led to the radicalization of the Nationalist Party and the subsequent downfall of the traditional political parties: the Partido Liberal, the Partido Republicano, and the Partido Socialista. Their demise led to the emergence of Luis Muñoz Marín and the Partido Popular Democrático.

The popular newspaper El Mundo covered these major events and documents the shifts in policy and culture in Puerto Rico.