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Bonnie and Clyde

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Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were famous American outlaws.

Bonnie Parker BC10
Bonnie Parker BC10

They lived during the Great Depression. This was a very hard time for many people. They traveled across the Central United States with a gang. Between 1932 and 1934, they committed many crimes. These crimes included robbing banks and small stores. They also committed kidnappings and murders.

BonnieParkerCigar1933
BonnieParkerCigar1933

Their actions made them very famous in the news. This time is sometimes called the "public enemy era."

Bonnie Parker was born in 1910 in Rowena, Texas.

Bonnie Parker BC10
Bonnie Parker BC10

She was a bright child who loved performing. She even dreamed of becoming a famous actress. Bonnie also liked to write poems. One of her poems was titled "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde."

BonnieParkerCigar1933
BonnieParkerCigar1933

Clyde Barrow was born in 1909 in Telico, Texas. He grew up in a poor farming family. Clyde spent time in prison during his youth. After he left prison, he was a very bitter man. He often robbed stores and gas stations.

Clyde i el seu Ford V8
Clyde i el seu Ford V8

He used a Browning automatic rifle during his crimes.

The two met in January 1930 in West Dallas.

Bonnie and Clyde fooling around Getty 514872400
Bonnie and Clyde fooling around Getty 514872400

They formed a gang that traveled together. They often stayed in places like Joplin, Missouri.

BarrowJoplinHideout1933
BarrowJoplinHideout1933

In Joplin, they lived in an apartment on Oakridge Drive. The gang was very noisy at night. They played loud card games and drank beer. One night, Clyde accidentally fired a large rifle inside. This noise made the neighbors very suspicious.

BarrowJoplinHideout1933
BarrowJoplinHideout1933

This led the police to look for them more closely.

Their crimes caused much trouble for law enforcement.

WDJonesAndGuns1933
WDJonesAndGuns1933

The gang is believed to have murdered nine police officers. They also killed at least three civilians. One member of their gang was W.D. Jones. He joined them on Christmas Eve in 1932. The gang was often on the run in cars.

The Bonnie and Clyde car
The Bonnie and Clyde car

They used fast cars to try and escape. These crimes made the public very interested in them. The newspapers wrote many stories about their adventures.

In 1934, the law finally caught up to them.

FrankHamerEarly1920s
FrankHamerEarly1920s

A group of lawmen was led by Frank Hamer. He was a retired Texas Ranger. The posse set an ambush in Louisiana.

BarrowAmbushSite1934
BarrowAmbushSite1934

They caught the gang on Louisiana Highway 154. Bonnie and Clyde were killed in their car.

1934 Ford V-8 containing the remains of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow
1934 Ford V-8 containing the remains of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow

Today, people still remember their story. Many movies have been made about their lives. Some movies make them seem romantic. Others show the point of view of the lawmen.

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🖼️ Images & Media (24)
File:Bonnie Parker BC10.jpg
Bonnie Parker BC10.jpg
File:Clyde i el seu Ford V8.jpg
Clyde i el seu Ford V8.jpg
File:BonnieParkerCigar1933.jpg
BonnieParkerCigar1933.jpg
File:BarrowJoplinHideout1933.jpg
BarrowJoplinHideout1933.jpg
File:WDJonesAndGuns1933.jpg
WDJonesAndGuns1933.jpg
File:Bonnie and Clyde fooling around Getty 514872400.jpg
Bonnie and Clyde fooling around Getty...
File:RedCrownBarrowHideout1933.jpg
RedCrownBarrowHideout1933.jpg
File:BlancheCapturedExfield1933.jpg
BlancheCapturedExfield1933.jpg
File:WDJones1933.jpg
WDJones1933.jpg
File:FrankHamerEarly1920s.jpg
FrankHamerEarly1920s.jpg
File:B&CElecChairEditCartoon1934.jpg
B&CElecChairEditCartoon1934.jpg
File:Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow posse (1934).jpg
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow posse (1934).jpg

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