Final answer:
The 1932 bonus marchers were World War I veterans who marched on Washington to demand immediate payment of their veterans' bonuses due to economic hardships. The protest known as the Bonus Army ended in confrontations and influenced public opinion against President Hoover.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1932 bonus marchers were World War I veterans who marched on Washington to lobby for immediate cash payments for their veterans' bonuses. These bonuses were originally scheduled to be paid out in 1945, but due to the economic hardships of the Great Depression, the veterans sought early payment. The protesters, who formed a group known as the Bonus Army, camped out in vacant federal buildings and in makeshift camps at Anacostia Flats near the Capitol building, establishing their own Hoovervilles in the city.
Despite their peaceful protest, their presence in Washington led to confrontations with the government. President Hoover ordered a military response, which ended in violence and further tarnished his reputation, contributing to his defeat in the subsequent presidential election. The Civilian Conservation Corps, which was part of President Roosevelt's New Deal, later provided jobs to many of these veterans, although Roosevelt himself initially did not support the early payment of the bonuses.