Jonestown Massacre

Jonestown  Peoples Temple, formed in Indianapolis during 1950’s  Jim Jones- Cult leader  140 followers moved with Jones to Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, California

Felt they would be safe from fallout in case of a nuclear attack on United States if they lived there Felt they would be safe from fallout in case of a nuclear attack on United States if they lived there Late 1960’s: congregation down to less than 100- on verge of collapse Late 1960’s: congregation down to less than 100- on verge of collapse Jones had Peoples Temple form an affiliation with Disciples of Christ Jones had Peoples Temple form an affiliation with Disciples of Christ

Membership started to go up Membership started to go up Jones had larger influence in West Coast area Jones had larger influence in West Coast area Moved group to San Francisco in 1971 Moved group to San Francisco in 1971 Opened another church in Los Angeles Opened another church in Los Angeles

Jones: in San Francisco, was appointed to city commissions and made grants to local newspapers with goal of supporting First Amendment Jones: in San Francisco, was appointed to city commissions and made grants to local newspapers with goal of supporting First Amendment Scandals and investigations started to go on in San Fran Scandals and investigations started to go on in San Fran

Jones decided to leave to create utopian community in Guyana Jones decided to leave to create utopian community in Guyana Would have absolute power over his members since they were far away from US authorities/intervention or relatives of members Would have absolute power over his members since they were far away from US authorities/intervention or relatives of members

1974- leased over 3000 acres of jungle land from the Guyanese government leased over 3000 acres of jungle land from the Guyanese government Members of Peoples Temple began construction of Jonestown under supervision of senior members who were assigned by Jones Members of Peoples Temple began construction of Jonestown under supervision of senior members who were assigned by Jones

1977: membership was at 50, in 1978 it was at over : membership was at 50, in 1978 it was at over 900 Members thought Guyana was going to be a paradise- Jones had promised Members thought Guyana was going to be a paradise- Jones had promised All of the residents, including the children, raised food and animals for “Peoples Temple Agricultural Project” All of the residents, including the children, raised food and animals for “Peoples Temple Agricultural Project”

Work was 6 days a week, 7 in morning to 6 in evening Work was 6 days a week, 7 in morning to 6 in evening Temperatures reached over 100 degrees Temperatures reached over 100 degrees Meals would consist of rice and beans while Jones ate meat and other refrigerated foods Meals would consist of rice and beans while Jones ate meat and other refrigerated foods

Cruel and unusual punishment used against members considered to be serious disciplinary problems Cruel and unusual punishment used against members considered to be serious disciplinary problems Imprisonment in a 6 by 4 by 3 foot plywood box and forcing children to spend a night at the bottom of a well Imprisonment in a 6 by 4 by 3 foot plywood box and forcing children to spend a night at the bottom of a well

Members who tried to run away were drugged to the point of incapacitation Members who tried to run away were drugged to the point of incapacitation Armed guards patrolled compound day and night to ensure Jones’s orders were followed Armed guards patrolled compound day and night to ensure Jones’s orders were followed

Children were in communal care Children were in communal care Addressed Jones as “Dad” Addressed Jones as “Dad” Only allowed to see real parents briefly at night Only allowed to see real parents briefly at night Jones was called “Father” or “Dad” by adults as well Jones was called “Father” or “Dad” by adults as well

Guyanese locals have told horror stories of punishments, and the “torture hole” where children were put in the middle of the night Guyanese locals have told horror stories of punishments, and the “torture hole” where children were put in the middle of the night He told children there was a monster living in the bottom of the well He told children there was a monster living in the bottom of the well Had people pull and tug children when they went into well Had people pull and tug children when they went into well

“White Nights” –rehearsed mass suicides “White Nights” –rehearsed mass suicides In practice nights, people were told they would die, were forced to drink unsweetened Flavor Aid, told it contained poison In practice nights, people were told they would die, were forced to drink unsweetened Flavor Aid, told it contained poison Only after everyone drank the concoction were they informed they was no poison Only after everyone drank the concoction were they informed they was no poison

This was a test of loyalty and faith in Jones This was a test of loyalty and faith in Jones Phrase “Drinking the kool-aid” came from this Phrase “Drinking the kool-aid” came from this

November 1978 November 1978 Congressman Leo Ryan, Democrat from San Francisco, flew to Jonestown Congressman Leo Ryan, Democrat from San Francisco, flew to Jonestown Team of 18 people, officials, media representatives, members of group “Concerned Relatives of Peoples Temple Members” Team of 18 people, officials, media representatives, members of group “Concerned Relatives of Peoples Temple Members”

They intended to investigate allegations that human rights were being violated daily at the Peoples Temple, individuals being held against their free will, individuals had their money and passports confiscated, mass suicide rehearsals were being conducted They intended to investigate allegations that human rights were being violated daily at the Peoples Temple, individuals being held against their free will, individuals had their money and passports confiscated, mass suicide rehearsals were being conducted

Ryan and group came Ryan and group came Some Peoples Temple members moved to defect Some Peoples Temple members moved to defect Others left the colony, Jones was angry when he found out Others left the colony, Jones was angry when he found out

Ryan did not have a large enough plane to carry those who wanted to leave, they would have to schedule another flight Ryan did not have a large enough plane to carry those who wanted to leave, they would have to schedule another flight Member of Temple, on Jones’s orders, attacked Ryan with knife Member of Temple, on Jones’s orders, attacked Ryan with knife

A loyalist demanded to join group leaving A loyalist demanded to join group leaving People on plane did not like idea, but Ryan said that they would take anyone who wanted to leave People on plane did not like idea, but Ryan said that they would take anyone who wanted to leave Loyalist opened fire right before take off Loyalist opened fire right before take off

A tractor appeared, circled plane and opened fire A tractor appeared, circled plane and opened fire Shooting was filmed, even though cameraman was killed Shooting was filmed, even though cameraman was killed Congressman Ryan and some news team members were killed Congressman Ryan and some news team members were killed

Mass murder/suicide Jim Jones called a meeting of the community- Nov 18, 1978 Jim Jones called a meeting of the community- Nov 18, 1978 He told the people that Ryan was going to be killed and that that would cause an attack on Jonestown and everyone would be killed He told the people that Ryan was going to be killed and that that would cause an attack on Jonestown and everyone would be killed

Mixed cyanide and Valium into a metal vat full of grape “Flavor Aid” a Kool-Aid knock-off Mixed cyanide and Valium into a metal vat full of grape “Flavor Aid” a Kool-Aid knock-off Caused death in about 5 minutes Caused death in about 5 minutes No one who drank the poison that evening survived No one who drank the poison that evening survived

Babies and small children were first, over two hundred of them Babies and small children were first, over two hundred of them Poured into mouths with syringes Poured into mouths with syringes Afterward were the adults with paper cups of poison Afterward were the adults with paper cups of poison Told to lie down together along walkways Told to lie down together along walkways

Jones was dead as well from a gunshot wound. No one knows if he committed suicide or if someone else shot him Jones was dead as well from a gunshot wound. No one knows if he committed suicide or if someone else shot him

Many thought this was just another rehearsal and did not see the people convulsing and dying Many thought this was just another rehearsal and did not see the people convulsing and dying Some armed guards had to shoot people who were resisting Some armed guards had to shoot people who were resisting 909 Temple members died and 5 others (including Ryan) 909 Temple members died and 5 others (including Ryan)

Why did this happen? How could one man achieve such control? How could one man achieve such control? Jim Jones had a paranoid belief that the American government was plotting to destroy anyone who was involved in the Peoples Temple Jim Jones had a paranoid belief that the American government was plotting to destroy anyone who was involved in the Peoples Temple

Jones had always removed the “threats” to the safety of his followers Jones had always removed the “threats” to the safety of his followers They learned to trust him and call him “Father” They learned to trust him and call him “Father” Self-sufficient community Self-sufficient community Everyone would be equal Everyone would be equal

Visionary Drew himself to the outcasts of society, as well as those who wanted to help the downtrodden, serve those in need Drew himself to the outcasts of society, as well as those who wanted to help the downtrodden, serve those in need Preached the need for racial brotherhood and integration Preached the need for racial brotherhood and integration Both black and white worshipped side by side Both black and white worshipped side by side

Congregation worked to feed the poor, find employment for the jobless, and help ex-criminals and drug addicts put their lives back together Congregation worked to feed the poor, find employment for the jobless, and help ex-criminals and drug addicts put their lives back together Started to put more and more demands on congregation Started to put more and more demands on congregation

Started promising miraculous healings where cancers would be removed and the blind made to see Started promising miraculous healings where cancers would be removed and the blind made to see Recruits would witness a community of brotherhood and fellowship where everyone, no matter their social standing or color, was treated as equals Recruits would witness a community of brotherhood and fellowship where everyone, no matter their social standing or color, was treated as equals

Severe initiation was required by new members, made entry that much more desirable Severe initiation was required by new members, made entry that much more desirable Created a much higher level of commitment from members Created a much higher level of commitment from members More that was sacrificed, more that was achieved More that was sacrificed, more that was achieved

By the time the members thought demands were oppressive, they were so heavily committed they just accepted it By the time the members thought demands were oppressive, they were so heavily committed they just accepted it Demands on member’s time, financial commitment would increase, amounts given recorded openly Demands on member’s time, financial commitment would increase, amounts given recorded openly

Highest level of commitment was when the individual or family lived at the Peoples Temple facilities- handing over all personal property, savings, and social security checks Highest level of commitment was when the individual or family lived at the Peoples Temple facilities- handing over all personal property, savings, and social security checks Communal living Communal living Capitalism was evil and destructive Capitalism was evil and destructive

Achievement of higher spirituality would require a struggle against own weaknesses Achievement of higher spirituality would require a struggle against own weaknesses Usually had isolated themselves from family and friends, couldn’t admit mistakes, would be alone without a support group Usually had isolated themselves from family and friends, couldn’t admit mistakes, would be alone without a support group

If you left the complex, you had no passport, papers, or money to help you escape If you left the complex, you had no passport, papers, or money to help you escape