8. The Great Depression and the Bonus Army March (1932)
In 1932, amid the Great Depression, thousands of World War I veterans, known as the Bonus Army, marched to Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of bonuses promised for their service. Their peaceful protest turned violent when U.S. Army troops, led by General Douglas MacArthur, forcibly dispersed the veterans, resulting in injuries and deaths. This event intensified public skepticism about the federal government’s ability to address the nation’s crises (pbs.org).
