In 1917, Congress had passed a law granting American citizenship to all Puerto Ricans and the inhabitants of the island wanted to exercise their constitutional rights, in particular the right to vote in Presidential elections.
1917年，议会通过一项法律，向所有希望行使宪法权利的波多黎各人和岛上居民授予美国公民权，特别是在总统选举中的投票权。