It was during the Great Depresssions and the WWI veterans were promised a sum of money for fighting in the war. In the depression, money was needed by quite a few people so the bonus army began a march on washington to get the money for fighting in the war, that they deserved. Eventually, the march was unsuccessful and when the veterans returned to their camp, a while later, General MacArthur (I think) came and obliterated the camp.
