Which protest march demanded government jobs during an economic downturn in 1894?

• A. Haymarket Affair
• B. Coxey's Army
• C. Bonus Army
• D. Pullman Strike

Answer: (B)

During the 1890s economic downturn, the most recognizable effort calling for government-provided jobs was led by Jacob Coxey, whose “People’s Army” marched on Washington in 1894. The central aim was straightforward: create jobs through a federal public-works program to relieve widespread unemployment and suffering. This movement emphasized federal action to put people to work building roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, funded by the government, rather than relying on private charitable aid or just protest rhetoric. It’s a clear example of how activists linked economic distress to calls for federal employment programs during the Panic of 1893.

The other events represent different labor struggles or periods with different goals. The Haymarket Affair in 1886 centered on the Eight-Hour Day and ended in violence. The Bonus Army in 1932 involved veterans demanding early payment of benefits, not general public works jobs. The Pullman Strike of 1894 was a railroad wage dispute led by the American Railway Union, focused on labor conditions and disruptions rather than a national jobs program.