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The aftermath of World War I and the onset of the Great Depression saw WWI veterans facing unemployment and poverty. The Bonus Army, formed in 1932, was a collective of veterans demanding early payment of a promised bonus. Their encampment in Washington D.C. and subsequent clash with the government highlighted the nation's economic and moral crises, influencing the 1932 presidential election.
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Returning veterans faced physical and mental challenges due to the high casualties and traumatic experiences of World War I
The economic prosperity of the Roaring Twenties was short-lived, and the Great Depression left many veterans struggling with unemployment and poverty
The nation grappled with the moral imperative to support those who had sacrificed for their country during the war, but were now facing financial difficulties
In 1932, a group of World War I veterans marched on Washington D.C. to demand the immediate payment of a promised bonus
The World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924 promised deferred compensation for veterans' service, payable in 1945
The dire economic conditions of the Great Depression led many veterans to seek earlier payment of their bonus, as they were unable to obtain loans against it due to the banking crisis
The Bonus Army created makeshift camps in Washington D.C., symbolizing the widespread economic hardship of the Great Depression
World War I veteran Walter W. Waters organized the Bonus Expeditionary Force and documented their experiences in a book
The Hoover administration and President Hoover himself opposed the immediate payment of the bonus and used military force to evict the protestors, resulting in a violent clash and public outrage
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End of WWI - Global Impact
Marked shift to peace but left political/economic instability, leading to future conflicts.
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WWI Technological Advancements
Introduced deadly weapons (tanks, gas, machine guns), causing unprecedented casualties.
02
Roaring Twenties - Economic Outcome
Short-term economic boom post-WWI, followed by market crash in 1929 sparking Great Depression.
