Events under Commonwealth status Independence movement in Puerto Rico

the national guard, commanded puerto rico adjutant general major general luis r. esteves , under orders of gov. luis muñoz marín, occupy jayuya

acknowledging importance of question of puerto rican status, truman supported plebiscite in puerto rico in 1952 on new constitution, determine status of island s relationship u.s. people voted 82% in favor of new constitution , free associated state, or commonwealth. nationalists criticized constitution because commonwealth subject u.s. laws , approval u.s. executive , legislative branches of government, branches puerto ricans did not participate in electing. government suppressed nationalist leaders, political activities , influence waned.

four nationalists opened fire on representatives during debate on floor of us. congress in 1954, wounding 5 men, 1 seriously. nationalists tried , convicted in federal court , sentenced life imprisonment. in 1978 , 1979 sentences commuted president jimmy carter time served, , allowed return puerto rico.

in 1960s, united states received international criticism holding onto 1 of world s last colonies. 1960s, new phase of puerto rican independence movement began. several organizations began use clandestine armed struggle against u.s. government. underground people s armies such el movimiento independentista revolucionario en armas (mira), los comandos armado de liberacion (cal), fuerzas armadas de liberación nacional (faln), la organización de voluntarios por la revolución puertorriqueña (ovrp), ejército popular boricua (epb), , others began engaging in subversive activities against u.s. government , military bring attention colonial condition of puerto rico. in 1977, rubén berríos martínez, president of puerto rican independence party, wrote long , detailed article in foreign affairs declared solution independence puerto rico.