Picture courtesy of National Park Service.
The Debate Marches to Washington
Video clip courtesy of J.Kircher
In mid-1932, a group of demonstrators went to Washington, DC, to engage in diplomacy related to getting the service bonuses early. The group, called the Bonus Expeditionary Force or Bonus Army for short, included World War 1 veterans and their families. The debate over the early service bonus was between the veterans and the government.
"This was not a revolutionary situation. This was a bunch of people in great distress wanting help.... These were simply veterans from World War I who were out of luck, out of money, and wanted to get their bonus -- and they needed the money at that moment."
~ Joseph C. Harsch, journalist and eyewitness to the march
Picture courtesy of National Park Service
Setting up for the debate
Most of the Bonus Army set up camp in Anacostia Flats in a Hooverville. The camp was organized by the veterans who registered those who came, laid out streets, and organized daily parades. Their presence in Washington helped to bring attention to the position they had taken in the debate for early service bonuses.
The veterans were able to convince the House of Representatives to pass the Wright Patman Bonus bill on June 15, 1932. Unfortunately, the Senate voted against it and the marchers were unsuccessful.
The marchers stayed in the camp, continuing to press their side of the debate.
"'Hooverville' became a common term for shacktowns and homeless encampments during the Great Depression.."Hooverville" was a deliberately politicized label, emphasizing that President Herbert Hoover and the Republican Party were to be held responsible for the economic crisis and its miseries."
~ James Gregory, University of Washington
Picture courtesy of WETA
Hoover's response
On July 28, 1932, police were ordered by President Hoover (pictured below) to remove the Bonus Army from the camp. As the police attempted to do this, two veterans were shot and killed.
Hoover ordered federal troops to clear the camps. They used bayonet fixed rifles, gas, and tanks to clear the camp.
Once out, the shelters and the belongings of the marchers were burned.
Picture courtesy of Totally History
Picture courtesy of Hollywood Citizen-News
Success and failure
The Bonus Army's march and their demands got support across the country. This would be important as the debate with the government continued.
The diplomacy of the Bonus Army failed to win both houses of Congress in passing the Wright Patman Bonus bill.
The actions of the armed forces in driving the Bonus Army out was the consequence of the group's attempt to support their position.
Congress appropriated $100,000 to help the veterans return home.
Hoover, running for a second term against Franklin Roosevelt, suffered politically because he had ordered the armed forces to take up arms against the veterans.
