Introduction
During the Great Depression, many families were striving to meet their basic needs, which drove people into different ways of facilitating supplies and upholding their status in society. At this time, most civilians blamed the government for the challenges they were experiencing and considered the banks to be oppressive1. People needed hope and support to survive these challenges. While some people worked to improve their status, Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, Alphonse Capone, John Dellinger, and John Ashley rose as criminals during these times to suit society’s expectations, hence promoting their popularity.
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow
People loved the two for their autonomy in taking care of themselves since they were born in low-income families. Bonnie and Clyde were taken as robin hood figures despite their actions during the time2. The tough economic times drove everyone to seek sustenance to avoid starvation and losing homes, and the preexisting economic challenges caused their efforts. The national and local governments did not offer practical solutions to deal with the challenges citizens were facing. Thus, they opted to take action on their own hands. Their actions were considered to be combating the oppression from banks by undertaking bank robbery. They would send what they got to their families, and their families would support them in situations of trouble.
People viewed Bonnie and Clyde as a revolutionaries. The couple was also famous due to the Americans due to Bonnie’s gender. It was not common to have a woman tied to a crime spree and involved in a national-wide search in the US. She became a focal point for most by showing that females had power too. People made portraits of her holding a gun and smoking to show she was considered unique. More people followed their stories, making them well-known.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone
Capone was dear to the American people due to his generosity. He was also gregarious, which made people award him public sympathy. People, to an extent, considered him a robin hood figure or a man of decent who would work alongside the people during the times. He consecutively used the press through his soup kitchen to gain sympathy3. However, people’s love for Capone began deteriorating during exposure to brutal violence, tax evasion, and murder to the public.
The Impact of the Great Depression on their Persona
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow
In the 1930’s most people in America were feeling the impact of the Great Depression due to the crashed economy. The crime was high all over the nation since each family was working to evade starvation or losing their homes. Clyde, born in a family of seven and grown up in poverty, had moved out of Dallas with his family, and they could not afford a tent. On the other hand, the government did not offer practical ways of handling the crashing economy, which made it worth it for their actions to take care of themselves through illegal means. When Bonnie and Clyde had money, they would send it back to their families. The great depression pushed them to seek a means of survival.
Alphonse Capone
During the great depression, most people were facing the challenges of starving and losing their homes. Capone used the impact on people to show his generosity by creating a soup kitchen in Chicago. He was able to feed millions of people in the area, which built his reputation of a caring person. Capone would offer meals and a resting place for the struggling population and even offer jobs to some people. He would also attend public gatherings and encourage people while showing his feelings and sympathy for those facing difficulties. He used the soup kitchen to clean up his name by using his crime money for charity works.
Changes Made to Criminal Justice System due to their Exploits
Bonnie and Clyde had made a mockery of the criminal fighting networks in the US during the Great Depression period. The two had shown the power of outlaws and made the crime networks seem weak. After their ambush, the criminal fighting networks have become more professional and have experienced many transformations, with the agents receiving reinforcements and being allowed to carry weapons with them. Congress has also granted the criminal agents full police powers.
From Alphonse Capone, the law adopted the idea of stop and frisk, which still works today, especially by the police departments. However, the idea of universal suspicion is not favored; instead, frisking is becoming common to ensure that now weapons or lawlessness are embraces. Furthermore, the harsh punishment for Capone might have resulted from the Mexican judge, and today the US is against any racial profiling acts and prevents illegal immigration into the country.
Conclusion
Criminals such as Bonnie, Clyde, and Capone rose during the great depression and gained popularity because of their courses. Bonnie remains revolutionary for women during the times. The couple is seen as heroic since they were against the oppressors, cared for themselves and supported their families. Capone gained public sympathy and love from his charity work since most people were starving and did not have shelter. Bonnie and Clyde led to the full authorization of agents to carry weapons, and Capone led to the reinforcement of frisking laws.
References
Lubis, Fauziah. “Legal regulations the role of professional advocates as reporting parties in preventing and eradicating money laundering crimes in Indonesia. “ International journal of innovative research and advances studies (IJIRAS) 7, no.2 (2020).
Schroeder, Maggie. “Bonnie and Clyde: Exaggeration Rooted in Truth.” (2019).
Straw, Will. “After the event: The challenges of crime photography.” In Getting the Picture, pp. 139-144. Routledge, 2020.
Footnotes
- Straw, Will. “After the event: The challenges of crime photography.” In Getting the Picture, pp. 139-144. Routledge, 2020.
- Schroeder, Maggie. “Bonnie and Clyde: Exaggeration Rooted in Truth.” (2019).
- Lubis, Fauziah. “Legal Regulations The Role Of Professional Advocates As Reporting Parties In Preventing And Eradicating Money Laundering Crimes In Indonesia.” International Journal Of Innovative Research And Advances Studies (IJIRAS) 7, no. 2 (2020).