Post on 05-Aug-2015
The Bonus Army“The end of the line for Herbert
Hoover”#4
Ch. 18.3 p. 643
American Doughboys fought bravely in the Great War
They came home to a hero’s welcome and were promised a “bonus” for serving their country with honor
The Bonus amounted to $1,000 -payable in 1945
This was the “belt tightening” time of the Great Depression
Many veterans, like everyone else, were down on their luck and in need of money.
Having the delayed bonus was like –walking around with a check in your pocket you couldn’t cash for over 10 years
Desperate veterans began to rally together & reformed their old units looking for solutions
Veterans in Oregon decided to “Hop” a train and travel to Washington DC to talk to Pres. Hoover
As they went east - summer of 1932
word spread throughout the countryPeople in towns would “pass the hat”
for them as they went throughMore Veterans joined them along the
way and an Army of Bonus Veterans formed
They Decided to Demand early payment of their Bonuses
Walter Waters became the leader of the movement who demanded their payment in 1932
- Some Members of Congress introduced a “Bonus Bill”
Desperate Veterans Arrived in Washington DC looking for Congress to pass the Bonus Bill
Tent Village of the Bonus Veteransby the Anacostia River in DC
About 17,000 veterans gathered outside of the Capital Building the day Congress voted
The Bonus Bill was Rejected by the SenateVeterans were stunned and broken
heartedSome left for home Others stayed to push for passage of
another billThey returned to the tent
village(Hooverville)Pres. Hoover grew more uncomfortable
and feared violence from the veterans
Pres. Hoover gives orders to have the tent village cleared
The last cavalry charge in U.S. History was against our own homeless veterans
The tent village was destroyed as people fled into the night
Gen. Douglas MacArthur led the attack on the veterans
Hoover tried to send orders down to MacArthur to call off the assault
The orders were ignoredSeveral died and hundreds were
wounded
The Battle of Washington- July 28, 1932
How do you think Hoover looked after this incident?
Americans were greatly disturbed by the sight of soldiers using weapons against homeless veteransPublic Opinion of Hoover fell even
moreThe Election was only several months
away FDR- “There’s no way I can lose now”
The Bonus Army will reappear After FDR’s Victory. How will he deal with them?
Do You Notice anything “Ironic” concerning this WWI Poster
Unit 6 – Quiz 1Tomorrow – 40 pts / MC and T & F
GREAT DEPRESSION PAPER - movie can be a guide -