American veterans of World War I returned home to promises of bonuses but faced hard times during the Great Depression as the bonuses were not to be paid until 1945. Thousands of desperate veterans traveled to Washington D.C. to demand early payment, setting up camps. When Congress rejected early payment, President Hoover ordered the camps cleared. General MacArthur led cavalry to destroy the camps, and clashes left several dead and hundreds wounded, undermining support for Hoover months before the 1932 election.

1. “The end of the line for Herbert Hoover”
#4
Ch. 18.3 p. 643

2. American Doughboys fought bravely in the Great War

3. They came home to a hero’s welcome and were
promised a “bonus” for serving their country with honor

4. 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

5. 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 country
 People in towns would “pass the hat” for them
as they went through
 More Veterans joined them along the way and
an Army of Bonus Veterans formed
 They Decided to Demand early payment of
their Bonuses

6. Walter Waters became the leader of the movement who
demanded their payment in 1932
- Some Members of Congress introduced a “Bonus Bill”

7. Desperate Veterans Arrived in Washington DC
looking for Congress to pass the Bonus Bill

8. Tent Village of the Bonus Veterans
by the Anacostia River in DC

9. About 17,000 veterans gathered outside of
the Capital Building the day Congress voted

10. The Bonus Bill was Rejected by
the Senate
 Veterans were stunned and broken hearted
 Some left for home
 Others stayed to push for passage of another bill
 They returned to the tent village(Hooverville)
 Pres. Hoover grew more uncomfortable and
feared violence from the veterans

11. Pres. Hoover gives orders to have the
tent village cleared

12. The last cavalry charge in U.S. History was
against our own homeless veterans

13. 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 ignored
 Several died and hundreds were wounded

14. The Battle of Washington- July 28, 1932

15. How do you think Hoover looked
after this incident?

16. Americans were greatly disturbed by the
sight of soldiers using weapons against
homeless veterans
 Public Opinion of Hoover fell even more
 The 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?

17. Do You Notice anything “Ironic”
concerning this WWI Poster

18. Unit 6 – Quiz 1
 Tomorrow – 40 pts / MC and T & F
GREAT DEPRESSION PAPER
- movie can be a guide -