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In 1781, most of the [[Continental Army]] was [[Demobilization|demobilized]] without pay. Two years later, hundreds of Pennsylvania war veterans marched on Philadelphia, then the capital, surrounded the State House where the [[U.S. Congress]] was in session, and demanded their pay. Congress fled to Princeton, New Jersey, and several weeks later, the U.S. Army expelled the war veterans from the national capital. In response to that experience, the federal district directly governed by the U.S. Congress,<ref>[[U.S. Constitution]], [[Article One of the United States Constitution#Section 8: Powers of Congress|Article I. Section 8. Clause 17)]]</ref> Washington, D.C., was excluded from the restrictions of the [[Posse Comitatus Act]] which forbade the use of the U.S. military for domestic police activity. |
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In 1781, most of the [[Continental Army]] was [[Demobilization|demobilized]] without pay. Two years later, hundreds of Pennsylvania war veterans marched on Philadelphia, then the capital, surrounded the State House where the [[U.S. Congress]] was in session, and demanded their pay. Congress fled to Princeton, New Jersey, and several weeks later, the U.S. Army expelled the war veterans from the national capital. In response to that experience, the federal district directly governed by the U.S. Congress,<ref>[[U.S. Constitution]], [[Article One of the United States Constitution#Section 8: Powers of Congress|Article I. Section 8. Clause 17)]]</ref> Washington, D.C., was excluded from the restrictions of the [[Posse Comitatus Act]] which forbade the use of the U.S. military for domestic police activity. |
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The practice of war-time military bonuses began in 1776, as payment for the difference between what a soldier earned and what he could have earned had he not enlisted.<ref> The practice derived from British legislation passed in the 1592-93 session of Parliament that provided medical care and maintenance for disabled veterans and bonuses for serving soldiers. Similar legislation for disabled veterans only was later progressively passed by English North American colonies beginning with Virginia in 1624. In August 1776, Congress adopted the first National pension law providing half pay for life for disabled veterans. Considerable pressure was applied to expand benefits to match the British system for serving soldiers and sailors but had little support from the colonial government until mass desertions at [[Valley Forge]] which threatened the existence of the [[Continental Army]] led [[George Washington]] to become a strong advocate. Congress progressively passed legislation from 1788 covering pensions and bonuses, eventually extending eligibility to widows in 1836. Before [[World War I]], the soldiers' military service bonus (adjusted for rank) was land and money — a [[Continental Army]] private received {{convert|100|acre|ha}} and $80.00 (2012: $2,105) at war's end, while a Maj. Gen. received {{convert|1100|acre|ha}}. In 1855, Congress increased the land-grant minimum to {{convert|160|acre|ha}}, and reduced the eligibility requirements to fourteen days of military service, or one battle; moreover, the bonus also applied to veterans of any Indian war. The provision of land eventually became a major political issue, particularly in Tennessee where almost 40% of arable land had been given to veterans as part of their bonus. By 1860, {{convert|73500000|acre|ha}} had been issued and lack of available arable land led to its abandonment and replacement with a cash system.</ref> Breaking with tradition, the veterans of the [[Spanish-American War]] did not receive a bonus and, after World War I, their not receiving a military service bonus became a political matter when WWI veterans received only a $60 bonus. The [[American Legion]], created in 1919, led a political movement for an additional bonus.<ref name=greenberg/> |
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The practice of war-time military bonuses began in 1776, as payment for the difference between what a soldier earned and what he could have earned had he not enlisted.<ref> The practice derived from British legislation passed in the 1592-93 session of Parliament that provided medical care and maintenance for disabled veterans and bonuses for serving soldiers. Similar legislation for disabled veterans only was later progressively passed by English North American colonies beginning with Virginia in 1624. In August 1776, Congress adopted the first National pension law providing half pay for life for disabled veterans. Considerable pressure was applied to expand benefits to match the British system for serving soldiers and sailors but had little support from the colonial government until mass desertions at [[Valley Forge]] which threatened the existence of the [[Continental Army]] led [[George Washington]] to become a strong advocate. Congress progressively passed legislation from 1788 covering pensions and bonuses, eventually extending eligibility to widows in 1836. Before [[World War I]], the soldiers' military service bonus (adjusted for rank) was land and money — a [[Continental Army]] private received {{convert|100|acre|ha}} and $80.00 (2012: $2,105) at war's end, while a Maj. Gen. received {{convert|1100|acre|ha}}. In 1855, Congress increased the land-grant minimum to {{convert|160|acre|ha}}, and reduced the eligibility requirements to fourteen days of military service, or one battle; moreover, the bonus also applied to veterans of any Indian war. The provision of land eventually became a major political issue, particularly in Tennessee where almost can eat a dick |
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[[File:USA-Cinderella-Stamp-1932 Pay the Bonus.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cinderella stamp]] (USA, 1932) supporting the Bonus Army.]] |
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[[File:USA-Cinderella-Stamp-1932 Pay the Bonus.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cinderella stamp]] (USA, 1932) supporting the Bonus Army.]] |
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On May 15, 1924, President [[Calvin Coolidge]] vetoed a bill granting bonuses to veterans of World War I, saying: "patriotism... bought and paid for is not patriotism." Congress overrode his veto a few days later,<ref name=greenberg>David Greenberg, ''Calvin Coolidge'' (NY: Henry Holt, 2006), 78-9</ref> enacting the [[World War Adjusted Compensation Act]]. Each veteran was to receive a dollar for each day of domestic service, up to a maximum of $500, and $1.25 for each day of overseas service, up to a maximum of $625 (2010: $7,899). Amounts of $50 or less were immediately paid. All other amounts were issued as Certificates of Service maturing in 20 years.<ref>Dickson and Allen, 29</ref> |
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On May 15, 1924, President [[Calvin Coolidge]] vetoed a bill granting bonuses to veterans of World War I, saying: "patriotism... bought and paid for is not patriotism." Congress overrode his veto a few days later,<ref name=greenberg>David Greenberg, ''Calvin Coolidge'' (NY: Henry Holt, 2006), 78-9</ref> enacting the [[World War Adjusted Compensation Act]]. Each veteran was to receive a dollar for each day of domestic service, up to a maximum of $500, and $1.25 for each day of overseas service, up to a maximum of $625 (2010: $7,899). Amounts of $50 or less were immediately paid. All other amounts were issued as Certificates of Service maturing in 20 years.<ref>Dickson and Allen, 29</ref> |
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