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Bonus Army Protests - Riots In Washington DC 1932

Public Domain Stock Footage Bonus Army Protests - Riots In Washington DC 1932

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keywords: social unrest and protests, bonus army protest march on washington, wwi veterans

Synopsis: 15,000 WWI veterans march on Washington D.C. and set up several camps where they demanded the bonus money they were promised for fighting in WWI where they were forcibly removed by the Army on orders of President Herbert Hoover and their make-shift houses torched (2009-586f.txt 24730)...(read more)

  • Date: 1932
  • Duration: 00:05:19
  • Sound: Yes
  • Color: Monochrome
  • Type: Public Domain
  • Language: English
  • Location: United States

Bonus Army Protests - Riots In Washington DC 1932

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Bonus Army Protests - Riots In Washington DC 1932

With the onslaught of the Great Depression, the veterans out of work, destitute, and with families to feed, organized a march on Washington to force Congress to immediately pay their bonus. An estimated 15,000 made their way to the nation's capital in May 1932 and dubbed themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force.

On June 17, 1932 the Senate voted against the House-passed bill that would have given the Bonus Marchers immediate payment of their benefit. Having no other place to go, the majority of the Bonus Army remained encamped in the city, despite the fact that Congress had adjourned for the summer.

Finally, President Hoover ordered the Army to forcibly remove the veterans. On July 28, 1932 a force of tanks and cavalry under the command of General Douglas MacArthur stormed the camps and drove the veterans out. Their makeshift houses were then set ablaze.

Shot List:

00:04:42;23

Shows Bonus Army camp facilities at Johnstown, Pa., established after their eviction from Washington, D.C.