Historial Contextualization
The Jonestown Massacre is one of the most devastating and unknown massacres of all time, which involved mass murder and suicide. This massacre occurred in the 1970's, an era of racial segregation and civil rights movements. Many people were desperate for acceptance and unity, which is what Jim Jones, the reverend who was responsible for Jonestown, provided.
The Jonestown Massacre is one of the most devastating and unknown massacres of all time, which involved mass murder and suicide. This massacre occurred in the 1970's, an era of racial segregation and civil rights movements. Many people were desperate for acceptance and unity, which is what Jim Jones, the reverend who was responsible for Jonestown, provided.
Narrative
The Jonestown Massacre is one of the most devastating massacres that have occured in U.S history. A total of about 900 people died, making it the largest mass murder up until 9/11. Jim Jones, a well known reverend, established the Peoples Temple in the 1950s, located in Indianapolis. The church consisted of multi-ethnic Christian sects, and preached against racism. Upon the establishment of the temple, the civil rights era had reached its heights, making the Temple even more appealing to those of African American heritage. After moving to San Francisco in 1971, accusations against the church of financial fraud, physical abuse of its members, and mistreatment of children, began to steadily grow. Filled with paranoia, Jones moved his Temple from San Francisco to Guyana to build a socialist utopia in Jonestown. As rumors grew, Congressman Leo Ryan decided to visit the Peoples Temple to investigate the accusations. The visit remained amicable, until followers of Jones began to request to leave the church with Ryan. This angered Jones, who then ordered an ambush of the Congressman and his followers as they were leaving the Temple. Subsequently, Jones called everyone in Jonestown to gather in the main pavilion. Jones served all of his followers a powdered fruit juice similar to Kool-Aid, laced with cyanide. For those who refused to drink the cyanide, armed guards surrounded the pavilion and shot those who tried to escape, and children were forcefully injected with the concoction into their throats. Jones’s death however remains disputed to this day and it is still unknown as to if he killed himself or was shot in the head.
The Jonestown Massacre is one of the most devastating massacres that have occured in U.S history. A total of about 900 people died, making it the largest mass murder up until 9/11. Jim Jones, a well known reverend, established the Peoples Temple in the 1950s, located in Indianapolis. The church consisted of multi-ethnic Christian sects, and preached against racism. Upon the establishment of the temple, the civil rights era had reached its heights, making the Temple even more appealing to those of African American heritage. After moving to San Francisco in 1971, accusations against the church of financial fraud, physical abuse of its members, and mistreatment of children, began to steadily grow. Filled with paranoia, Jones moved his Temple from San Francisco to Guyana to build a socialist utopia in Jonestown. As rumors grew, Congressman Leo Ryan decided to visit the Peoples Temple to investigate the accusations. The visit remained amicable, until followers of Jones began to request to leave the church with Ryan. This angered Jones, who then ordered an ambush of the Congressman and his followers as they were leaving the Temple. Subsequently, Jones called everyone in Jonestown to gather in the main pavilion. Jones served all of his followers a powdered fruit juice similar to Kool-Aid, laced with cyanide. For those who refused to drink the cyanide, armed guards surrounded the pavilion and shot those who tried to escape, and children were forcefully injected with the concoction into their throats. Jones’s death however remains disputed to this day and it is still unknown as to if he killed himself or was shot in the head.
Members of the People's Church
Jonestown: Post-Massacre
Footage of the shootings on the airstrip:
http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=13941
Only broadcast that covered the death in the People’s Temple: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/06-01-RyanTelegram.pdf
http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=13941
Only broadcast that covered the death in the People’s Temple: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/06-01-RyanTelegram.pdf