Bonus Army Protest 1932

Students explore the Bonus Army protest and President Herbert Hoover’s response during the Great Depression. They’ll learn key terms like Bonus Army, shantytowns, and federal force. Activities include political cartoon analysis, primary source letter analysis, and persuasive letter writing to understand how Hoover’s actions toward World War I veterans affected public opinion and the 1932 election. Short-answer questions will help students show how the protest highlighted the struggles of everyday Americans.

Included in this resource:

Do Now - “Coming for Justice…” 1932 primary source political cartoon analysis with scaffolding questions
Spotlight On: The Bonus Army with scaffolding questions
Letter to President Hoover primary source letter analysis with scaffolding questions
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: How did the government’s treatment of the Bonus Army affect President Hoover’s reputation and influence the 1932 presidential election?
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
★ Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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