The Bonus Military’s 1932 march on Washington, composed of World Struggle I veterans in search of early fee of their promised bonuses, ended of their dispersal by the U.S. Military. Infantry, cavalry, and tanks have been deployed in opposition to the veterans and their households, leading to accidents and two deaths. The occasion grew to become an emblem of the federal government’s perceived indifference to the plight of its residents in the course of the Nice Melancholy.
This incident had a profound influence on the general public notion of President Hoover and his administration. It highlighted the rising desperation of People fighting financial hardship and the federal government’s seemingly harsh response. The occasion contributed to Hoover’s defeat within the 1932 presidential election and additional underscored the social and political tensions of the period. The forceful elimination of the veterans additionally spurred debates about veterans’ rights and the suitable position of the navy in home affairs.