Which group comprised World War I veterans who marched to Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of a promised bonus?

• A. Berlin Airlift
• B. Big Stick Diplomacy
• C. Carpetbaggers
• D. Bonus Army

Answer: (D)

This item centers on a specific historical group and their action during the Great Depression. World War I veterans who marched on Washington, D.C., in 1932 to press for early payment of a promised bonus are known as the Bonus Army. They had served in the war and were struggling financially, so they sought accelerated receipt of the bonus that was due in 1945 under the World War Adjusted Compensation Act. Their demonstration highlighted how economic hardship led veterans to demand government relief, a moment that also reflected public sentiment toward veterans’ benefits during tough times.

The other options refer to different historical ideas or events: the Berlin Airlift was a postwar crisis involving supplies to West Berlin; Big Stick Diplomacy describes Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy approach; carpetbaggers were Northern politicians who moved to the South after the Civil War. These do not describe a group of veterans demanding a bonus, which is why the Bonus Army is the correct identification.