Bonus Army

Summary

The Bonus Army March of 1932 is one of the most overlooked events in U.S. history. In the wake of World War I, veterans who faced economic hardship, job losses, and disabilities fought for a bonus payment they were promised but wouldn't receive until 1945. Amid the Great Depression, over 10,000 veterans marched to Washington, demanding immediate payment. Despite their passionate advocacy, the Bonus Army was met with force by the U.S. military under General MacArthur. The events ultimately highlighted the struggles of veterans, culminating in the GI Bill's passage in 1944, which changed the future for millions of soldiers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Over 10,000 World War I veterans marched on Washington DC in the 1930s, demanding immediate payment of their bonus for service during the war.
• 😀 A congressman died on the floor while giving an impassioned speech in support of the veterans' bonus.
• 😀 General Douglas MacArthur, a World War I veteran, became a villain when he used tanks and tear gas to evict the veterans from their camps in Washington.
• 😀 Veterans who returned from World War I faced severe challenges, including struggling to find jobs and dealing with disabilities like PTSD, blindness, and loss of limbs.
• 😀 Veterans sought a pay differential to make up the difference between their wartime wages and the higher wages earned by workers at home during the war.
• 😀 In 1924, Congress approved a bonus for veterans, but it was set to be paid out in 1945, leading to frustration and anger among veterans who were facing poverty in the Great Depression.
• 😀 Walter Waters led the Bonus Expeditionary Force (BEF), a movement of veterans who marched to Washington in 1932 to demand their bonus payments.
• 😀 The Bonus Army was met with resistance in Washington, as some feared the movement could incite a revolution or racial unrest due to the integration of African American veterans.
• 😀 Despite the support in the House of Representatives, the Bonus Bill failed in the Senate, leading to disappointment and unrest among the veterans.
• 😀 On July 28, 1932, police were authorized to forcibly remove the veterans from their camps, resulting in chaos, deaths, and violent confrontations between veterans and law enforcement.
• 😀 Although the Bonus Army was disbanded, the struggle for veterans' benefits continued, eventually leading to the passing of the Adjusted Compensation Act in 1936 and the GI Bill in 1944, which provided significant support for World War II veterans.

Q & A

What was the Bonus Army, and why did it form?

The Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington, D.C. in 1932 to demand immediate payment of a bonus that was promised to them in 1924. The bonus was initially set to be paid in 1945, but the veterans, facing economic hardship during the Great Depression, wanted it sooner.

What were the main struggles faced by veterans when they returned home from World War I?

Veterans struggled to find employment, with many facing disabilities such as PTSD, blindness, or loss of limbs. They also dealt with financial disparities as their wages during the war were far lower than those of civilians who had continued working in the U.S.

Why did veterans push for a pay differential, and what was the government's response?

Veterans pushed for a pay differential to make up for the wages they missed while serving overseas, as they earned a fraction of what their civilian counterparts earned. In 1924, Congress approved the bonus but stipulated it would not be paid out until 1945, which angered many veterans.

What was the significance of the Bonus Expeditionary Force (BEF)?

The Bonus Expeditionary Force (BEF) was a group of veterans who traveled to Washington to lobby for the immediate payment of their bonuses. They set up camps and held protests in front of Congress, drawing national attention to their cause.

How did President Hoover and other officials view the Bonus Army?

President Hoover and other officials were concerned about the Bonus Army's potential to stir up civil unrest and saw the group as a possible communist threat. The police and military were eventually called to forcibly remove the veterans from their camps.

What happened when the Bonus Army was forcibly evicted from Washington?

On July 28, 1932, the police began evicting the Bonus Army veterans, which led to violent clashes. Two veterans were killed by police, and the military, led by General Douglas MacArthur, was called in to clear the veterans' camps using tear gas, smoke bombs, and tanks.

How did the government eventually respond to the veterans' demands?

After years of lobbying, veterans were finally paid in full through the Adjusted Compensation Act of 1936. Although President Franklin D. Roosevelt initially vetoed the bill, Congress overrode the veto, ensuring the veterans received their bonuses.

What role did the GI Bill play in helping veterans after World War II?

The GI Bill, passed in 1944, provided veterans with opportunities for education, homeownership, and small business creation. It was designed to prevent the issues World War I veterans faced and helped millions reintegrate into civilian life after their military service.

How did the Great Depression impact World War I veterans?

The Great Depression worsened the financial struggles of World War I veterans, many of whom were already struggling with disabilities and unemployment. The economic downturn made it even more difficult for them to make ends meet, fueling their demand for the early payment of their promised bonus.

Why was the payment of the bonus so contentious, and what were the long-term effects of the Bonus Army's actions?

The payment of the bonus was contentious because many saw it as an unnecessary expense, and some believed veterans were asking for more than they deserved. However, the Bonus Army's actions brought national attention to veterans' issues and led to the eventual passage of the GI Bill and the Adjusted Compensation Act, which transformed how veterans were treated by the government.