The term refers to a significant protest movement in 1932, comprised primarily of World War I veterans and their families. These individuals converged on Washington, D.C. to demand immediate cash payment of service certificates granted to them under the Adjusted Service Certificate Law of 1924. These certificates promised a future payment, but the veterans, facing economic hardship during the Great Depression, sought early disbursement.
This event highlights the social and economic distress prevalent during the Depression era. It underscored the government’s initial inability and subsequent controversial response to address the widespread suffering. The encampment and its eventual dispersal by the U.S. Army significantly impacted public perception of President Herbert Hoover and contributed to the growing sentiment for government intervention in economic affairs. The resulting negative publicity played a role in the political shift that followed.
