Bonnie Parker Progressivism

“If a policeman is killed in Dallas, and they have no clue or guide, if they can’t find a friend, just wipe the slate clean, and hang it on Bonnie and Clyde.” -Bonnie Parker. The criminal outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde, who also became known as The Barrow Gang, became notorious for their two year crime spree during the Great Depression and were made famous by their actions. Bonnie Parker was part of this duo and played a role in altering the image of women, which was already taking place during this time, by proving that even a woman can become a famous outlaw. Bonnie Parker was born to Henry and Emma Parker on October 1, 1910 in Rowena, Texas. Her father died in 1914, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Krouse, Bonnie's maternal grandparents, who lived
Jane Addams was a primary leader during this time by founding “Hull House”, a house which featured activities and classes that would help busy workingwomen who wished to expand their education or simply just to relax after a long days work. Hull House became a “spearhead for reform” which became part of progressivism. Other movements during this time included the social purity movement, which campaigned to clean up prostitution. William Howard Taft took over the presidency in 1909 after Theodore Roosevelt retired. He wasn’t in office for a long time because the elections of 1912 were just around the corner. Woodrow Wilson won the election and became America’s new president. He was determined to maintain the strength that Roosevelt had created in government during his presidency. He became the first president since John Adams to go to Capitol Hill and speak directly to Congress. He created the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 which became one of the most important parts of domestic legislation during his presidency. This created a national banking system which featured twelve banks, privately controlled, but regulated and supervised by the Federal Reserve Board, which was appointed by the president himself. It was great for the economy and it provided the government with more control over banks. In 1917, the United States entered World War I against Germany and its allies.
Like Bonnie, Capone was a gangster and made a living in the liquor trade business, killing anyone who got in the way. Capone wasn’t constantly on the run like Bonnie, but he did nevertheless lead a life of crime and was finally imprisoned for tax evasion. Capone became the era’s most notorious gang lord and didn’t have gender issues standing in his way. Bonnie didn’t have gender issues standing in her way either, but had she been a male, and merely an accomplice of Clyde, her story would not have been as impressive. It is because of criminals such as Bonnie Parker, that law enforcement has grown into what it is today. If Bonnie would have led her life of crime today, she would not have been able to evade police capture for such a long time. Today there are different methods of trying criminals and sentencing them such as the death penalty and life in prison. Bonnie and Clyde were hunted by the police and shot down by 167 bullets. In today’s times, firing that many bullets at two people would be considered borderline police brutality. This shows that law enforcement has come a long way over the