Puerto Rican progress toward self-government was again altered in 1909 when the Foraker Act, the United States Federal law which replaced military rule with civilian government in Puerto Rico, was modified by the Olmsted Amendment[1]. This Amendment placed the supervision of Puerto Rican affairs in the jurisdiction of an executive department designated by the president of the United States.[50]

In 1914, the first Puerto Rican officers, Martín Travieso (Secretary) and Manuel V. Domenech (Commissioner of Interiors), were assigned to the Executive Cabinet, allowing islanders a majority. A 1915 delegation from Puerto Rico, accompanied by the Governor Arthur Yager, traveled to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to grant the island more autonomy. A 1915 delegation from Puerto Rico, accompanied by the Governor Arthur Yager, traveled to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to grant the island more autonomy. This delegation and speeches made by Resident Commissioner Luis Muñoz Rivera in Congress, coupled with political and economic interests, led to the drafting of the Jones–Shafroth Act of 1917 (Jones Act).

Luis Muñoz Rivera became one of the founders of the Union Party in Puerto Rico who was against the Foraker Act.[2] The delegation and speeches made by Resident Commissioner Muñoz Rivera in Congress, coupled with political and economic interests, led to the drafting of the Jones–Shafroth Act of 1917 (Jones Act).

  1. ^ Orellana, Manuel Rodriquez. "PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. CONGRESS: THE ROAD AHEAD". Texas Hispanic Journal of Law & Policy. 21.
  2. ^ "Hispanic Americans in Congress -- Muñoz Rivera". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-07.