DuringtheGreatDepression,some10,000desperateWorldWarIUSveteransweremassedontheCapitolgroundsinJune1932.Awarbonushadbeenawardedtothemin1924,butwasnottobepaiduntil1945.ThevetsneededtheirbonusrightthenandhadswarmedtoWashingtontodemandit.Theauthoritiesgrewincreasinglynervous.
Finally,at1:45pmon28July,twofullmonthsafterthepeacefuldemonstrationhadbegun,thepolicewereorderedtodispelthebonusmarchers.Meetingwithresistance,theyopenedfireandkilledtwomen.By4:45pmaninfantrybattalion,atankplatoon,andasquadronofcavalrywereonthescene.Theinfantryfixedbayonets.Thecavalrydrewtheirsabersandcharged.Around4am,thebonusmarcherswereforcedacrosstheMarylandborder.
經濟大蕭條期間，一九三二年六月，約有一萬個走投無路的第一次世界大戰退役美軍聚集國會廣場。一九二四年，當局答應給他們參戰獎金，但要到一九四五年才支付，而他們需錢甚急，於是群集華盛頓，要求馬上付款。當局越來越覺不安。
和平示威維持了整整兩個月。七月二十八日下午一時四十五分，警方終於奉命驅逐示威者，遇上反抗，開槍殺了兩人。下午四時四十五分，一營步兵、一排坦克、一中隊騎兵來到現場。步兵槍上裝好刺刀，騎兵則拔出軍刀衝前。凌晨四時左右，示威者已被驅入馬里蘭州。