History's Crimes and Trials
Bonnie and Clyde
The famous film made them into romantic heroes, but in reality they were cold-blooded gangsters who went on a murderous rampage through four states before lawman gunned them down in 1934. Bonnie and Clyde, partners in crime and love, captured the public’s imagination in the early 1930s and became celebrities. The public anxiously followed their exploits in the newspapers, and thousands rushed to see their bodies on display after the authorities gunned them down. Bonnie & Clyde would be useful for classes on American History, American Culture and Criminal Justice. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.
Discussion Questions
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Hollywood and the media have mythologized Bonnie and Clyde. What is a myth? How did the media make Bonnie and Clyde and their exploits a myth? What was the allure of these two killers?
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What other crimes and/or criminals has Hollywood mythologized?
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Discuss how Bonnie and Clyde were products of their time. What does this mean? Who else could be defined as a product of his or her times?
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What was Clyde Barrow’s childhood like? What was Bonnie Parker’s like?
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How did Clyde Barrow receive his education in prison? What lessons did he learn?
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In 1919, Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, which forbade the manufacture, sale or transportation of liquor, thus ushering in the era of Prohibition. How did Prohibition encourage the establishment and growth of organized crime?
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Why did Bonnie and Clyde receive such sensational press coverage?
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How did the authorities finally capture Bonnie and Clyde?
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Authorities fired over 150 rounds into Bonnie and Clyde’s car. Why did the authorities use such force, almost “overkilling” them?
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Why did the death scene of Bonnie and Clyde become a tourist attraction?
Extended Activities
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View the 1967 movies Bonnie and Clyde and compare the Hollywood version of Bonnie and Clyde’s story with the documentary version.
