[2] This was considered by many American 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 after negotiation with its political leaders.

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 1 November 1950 two Puerto Rican Nationalists had attempted assassinating American president Harry S. Truman.

Truman's stated motive for supporting the plebiscite was that residents of the island could express their opinion of preferred status, but since independence was not offered, nationalists questioned Truman's stated motive.

An overwhelming majority approved the commonwealth over the alternative of return to direct American rule.