March on Washington

Examples of March on Washington in the following topics:

• The Flowering of Black Freedom Struggle

  • During the 1960s the black freedom struggle included the 1963 March on Washington, the 1964 Freedom Summer, and the 1965 March in Selma.
  • It took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963.
  • In addition to the March on Washington, the black freedom struggle flourished through campaigns for voter registration.
  • s famous speech, given during the 1963 March on Washington
  • Crowds surrounding the Reflecting Pool, during the 1963 March on Washington.

• Coxey's Army

  • The workers marched on Washington, D.C., in 1894, the second year of a four-year economic depression that was the worst in U.S. history up to that time.
  • It was the first significant popular protest march on Washington, and the expression, "Enough food to feed Coxey's Army" originates from this march.
  • The march originated with 100 men in Massillon, Ohio, on March 25, 1894.
  • Various groups from around the country gathered to join the march, and its number had grown to 500 with more on the way from further west when it reached Washington on April 30, 1894.
  • The climax of this movement was perhaps on April 21, 1894, when William Hogan and approximately 500 followers commandeered a Northern Pacific Railway train for their trek to Washington, D.C.

• The Emergence of the Civil Rights Movement

  • Forms of protest or civil disobedience included boycotts such as the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama; "sit-ins" such as the influential Greensboro sit-ins; marches, such as the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama or the march on Washington as well as a wide range of other nonviolent activities .
  • The March on Washington was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history and demanded civil and economic rights for African Americans.
  • Thousands of Americans headed to Washington on Tuesday August 27, 1963.
  • Scenes from Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C. in August 1963.
  • This United States Information Agency photograph of the March on Washington, August 28, 1963, shows civil rights and union leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph L.

• The Bonus Army

  • In January 1932, a march of 25,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians, dubbed "Cox's Army," had marched on Washington, D.C, the largest demonstration to date in the nation's capital, setting a precedent for future marches by the unemployed.
  • Most of the Bonus Army camped in a Hooverville on the Anacostia Flats, a swampy, muddy area across the Anacostia River from the federal core of Washington D.C.
  • Retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, one of the most popular military figures of the time, visited the Bonus Army's camp to back the effort and encourage them.
  • On July 28, U.S.
  • Washington police met with resistance, shots were fired, and two veterans were wounded and later died.

• Washington's Escape from New York

  • While worrying over how to hold his army together, Washington organized attacks on the relatively exposed British outposts, which were, as a result, continually on edge due to ongoing militia and army raids.
  • Beginning in mid-December, Washington planned a two-pronged attack on an outpost in Trenton, with a third diversionary attack in Bordentown.
  • On Christmas night, Washington and 2,400 men stealthily crossed the Delaware and surprised Hessian troops in Trenton the following morning, killing or capturing nearly 1,000 Hessians .
  • He reassembled an army of more than 6,000 men, and marched most of them against a position Washington had taken south of Trenton.
  • Leaving a garrison of 1,200 at Princeton, Cornwallis then attacked Washington's position on January 2, and was repulsed three times before darkness set.

• The Revolutionary Army at Valley Forge

  • Due to a shortage of supplies that left approximately one in three men without shoes, many soldiers left a trail of bloody footprints behind them during the march into town.
  • The animals on camp fared no better.
  • The celebrations were observed by Washington and other military leaders and all soldiers were provided one gill of rum at the conclusion of the festivities.
  • Philadelphia was evacuated by the British on June 18, 1778.
  • On June 19, 1778, after six months at Valley Forge, the Continental Army marched in pursuit of Clinton's troops up towards New York.

• The War in the Chesapeake

  • Starting in March of 1813, a squadron under British Rear Admiral George Cockburn started a blockade and raided towns along the bay from Norfolk to Havre de Grace.
  • In response to Prevost's request, the British decided to employ this force, together with the naval and military units already on the station, to strike at Washington, D.C.
  • On August 24, U.S.
  • Secretary of War John Armstrong insisted that the British would attack Baltimore rather than Washington, even when the British Army was obviously on its way to the capital.
  • The successful British raid on Washington, D.C., dented American morale and prestige.

• Quebec, New York, and New Jersey

  • Meanwhile, Washington's army organized attacks on British outposts already battling ongoing militia and army raids as he was repulsed from New York by the British.
  • In mid-December, Washington planned a two-pronged attack on an outpost in Trenton, including a third diversionary attack in Bordentown.
  • On the evening of December 25, 1776, Washington led 2,400 of his men across the treacherous Delaware River to ambush Hessian soldiers guarding the British fort at Trenton.
  • Cornwallis reassembled an army of more than 6,000 men and marched most of them against a position Washington was holding south of Trenton.
  • He then stationed a garrison of 1,200 at Princeton and attacked Washington and his men on January 2, but was repulsed three times before darkness set.

• Surrender at Yorktown

  • In August 1781, in what has since become known as the Celebrated March, the combined armies of Washington and Rochambeau departed from New York to Virginia, engaging in tactics of deception to lead the British to believe a siege of New York was planned.
  • On September 14, Washington arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the revolutionary allies' army and naval forces surrounded Cornwallis.
  • On September 28, Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown.
  • Washington fired the first gun on October 9.
  • With the British defense weakened, Washington sent two columns to attack the last major remaining British outer defenses, on October 14, 1781.

• Conclusion: The Fight for Independence

  • In response, Britain declared war on France on March 17, 1778.
  • Washington petitioned Congress for supplies and provisions, but received no support.
  • On June 19, 1778, after six months at Valley Forge, the Continental Army marched in pursuit of the British, who were moving toward New York.
  • Washington and Rochambeau departed New York on August 19 and led 4,000 French and 3,000 American soldiers to join de Grasse in Yorktown in what has since become known as the Celebrated March.
  • On September 14, Washington arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the revolutionary allies’ army and naval forced surrounded Cornwallis.