Bonus Army March on Washington in 1932: Economic Hardships and Unemployment
What did the Bonus Army want when they marched on Washington in 1932?
Unemployed World War I veterans formed the Bonus Expeditionary Forces (BEF) in May 1932 with the intention of marching on Washington, DC. The BEF wanted the bonus payment now, when they truly needed the money, because they were suffering and in a grave situation.
17,000 World War I veterans, their families, and connected organizations made up the 43,000-strong Bonus Army, which convened in Washington, D.C., in the middle of 1932 to demand the early cash redemption of their service bonus certificates.
The Bonus Army event in the summer of 1932 all but guaranteed Roosevelt's victory. The unemployment rate was 23.6 percent at that point. Approximately 12 million people lacked a job (out of a labor force of 51 million).
Final answer:
The Bonus Army, comprised of WWI veterans, marched on Washington in 1932 to demand the early payment of their bonuses due to economic hardships caused by the Great Depression. Their peaceful protest was met with military force, resulting in casualties, which exacerbated public disapproval of President Hoover's policies.
Explanation:
The Bonus Army was a group of approximately 15,000 World War I veterans and their families who marched on Washington, D.C., in the summer of 1932. They were demanding the early payment of veteran bonuses that were originally scheduled to be paid in 1945. The country was in the grips of the Great Depression, and many veterans were struggling with unemployment and homelessness. The government debated the matter but ultimately decided against the early distribution of funds in order to maintain a balanced budget. Despite being rejected and facing hardships, the veterans established camps, known as Hoovervilles, across the city and insisted on staying until the government reconsidered. Their persistence, however, resulted in a tragic clash with the military on July 28, which led to injuries, a death, and further tarnished President Hoover's reputation.