Bonus Marchers
1932
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This photograph shows members of the "Bonus Army" fighting with police in 1932. The group, made up of thousands of World War I veterans calling themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force (BEF), came to Washington to demonstrate for immediate payment of a bonus promised to them by the Government eight years earlier. After Congress failed to pass legislation allowing the payout, the Government ordered protesters home. Police tried to clear the marchers but were unsuccessful. The military took over under the command of Douglas MacArthur. Violence ensued, with the military using gas grenades and burning down shanties lining the streets.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
National Archives Identifier: 593253
Full Citation: Photograph 111-SC-97560; Photograph of Bonus Marchers; 1932; Photographs of American Military Activities, ca. 1918 - ca. 1981; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/bonus-marchers, April 19, 2025]Rights: In Copyright Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
