A referendum on a
new constitution was held in
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
on 3 March 1952.
[ Nohlen, D (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p552 ] It was approved by 81.9% of voters. This was considered by many U.S. and Puerto Rican politicians an affirmation of the new constitution of the island as an ''Estado Libre Associado'', or
Commonwealth, as proposed by legislation in 1950 by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
after negotiation with its political leaders.
Puerto Rican nationalists
Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to:
Places
*El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain
*Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
*Puerto Colombia, Colombia
*Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela
*Puerto Galera, Orient ...
question the meaning of the referendum, complaining that the only alternative offered was direct U.S. rule, and no choice of independence was offered. In 1980, the
Supreme Court of the United States adjudicated (''
Harris v. Rosario'') that as a result of this referendum of 1952, the actual territorial status was not changed at all.
On November 1, 1950 two
Puerto Rican Nationalists
Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to:
Places
*El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain
*Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
*Puerto Colombia, Colombia
*Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela
*Puerto Galera, Orient ...
had
attempted assassination of the United States President
Harry S. Truman. They claimed they were retaliating for U.S. cooperation in repressing
1950 nationalist revolts on the island. Truman's stated motive for supporting for the
plebiscite
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of ...
was that residents of the island could express their opinion of preferred status, but since independence was not offered, nationalists question Truman's stated motive. An overwhelming majority approved the commonwealth over the alternative of return to direct U.S. rule.
Results
References
{{PuertoRico-stub
1952 referendums
1952
Events January–February
* January 26 – Black Saturday in Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses.
* February 6
** Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, becomes m ...
1952 in Puerto Rico
Constitutional referendums
March 1952 events in North America