The Great Depression And The Bonus Army After The Great War

Milton Friedman once said, “ The Great Depression, like most other periods of severe unemployment, was produced by government mismanagement rather than by any inherent instability of private economy.” (Brainyquotes.com,2015) The Bonus Army understood this sentiment more than any other group of people. They marched on the nation’s Capitol demanding compensation for their services during World War I. As THe Great Depression hit in 1929, it lingered-affecting the country. After The Great War, soldiers were promised an assurance of compensation for their loss of pay. They marched across the nations to Washington D.C to bring attention to their plight. The leader of this movement was Walter W. Waters, a former sergeant during the war. He rounded up formers veterans, hopped on the rails, and it became the start of the Bonus Army. They arrived in droves, setting up Hoovervilles, and marched around the Capitol. The House of Representatives heard their cries and passed the bill. In contrast, the Senate put it’s foot down, demolishing the Bonus bill, and slipped away in the middle of the night to avoid personal harm. …show more content…
Instead, they stayed around the Capitol. Everyone who were in the Hoovervilles they crated shops, set up libraries, and the line between race disappeared. Hoover then made an executive decision to remove the Bonus Army. Troops, Tanks, and Cavalry men stormed in. They used gas to clear them out of their shacks, then burned the shacks down which caused a huge fire that burned throughout the night. This action killed one veteran and injured 50, which costed him the reelection. They wanted change, they wanted a president who will actually listen and help them get through this tough