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Jonestown massacre

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Tom Weir
Tom Weir

Jim Jones founded the People's Temple cult in 1977 and created a commune called Jonestown in Guyana. He convinced followers of his communist and religious beliefs. However, when some residents wanted to leave, Jones kept them imprisoned. When authorities investigated, Jones ordered a mass suicide of 909 people through poisoned punch, showing his extreme control and influence over followers through obedience and internalization of his beliefs.

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Jonestown massacre
Jim Jones was the founder of a cult called the Peoples Temple Christian Church in 1977. Jonestown is the name given to the community he created. Jonestown is the informal name given to the community and its location. Jones was influenced by Unitarian Humanism, Father Divine and Marxism and wanted to create a communist community where everybody could live harmoniously together. He felt that the world had become a corrupt and unjust place and promised people a total utopia. He convinced others of his beliefs by using religion and claimed to be God and Buddha on numerous occasions.
But things went wrong when the community became overcrowded and people decided they wanted to leave. Jones would not allow people to leave and kept them there against their will. The families of the people being kept in Jonestown alerted the authorities that their relatives were being kept against their will. The authorities went to Jonestown to investigate.
When the authorities got to Jonestown, they realised that there was something wrong and tried to shut it down. Congressman Ryan was shot as he tried to help the people being kept captive. Now knowing that his community was under threat, Jones convinced the residents to take part in a suicide pact. In 1978, at Jones command, 909 people committed suicide by drinking poisoned punch. Cyanide was squirted into the mouths of babies and infants.
Jones had planned the mass suicide and had previously got members to practice taking the poison as part of a loyalty test. He obtained large amounts of suicide by obtaining a jewellers license with the pretence of using the cyanide to clean gold. Jones called this revolutionary suicide, the theory was you can go down in history, saying you chose your own way to go, and it is your commitment to refuse capitalism and in support of socialism. Jones said that this would be a way for them to die with dignity. Jones said "I don't care how many screams you hear, I don't care how many anguished cries, death is a million times preferable to ten more days of this life. If you knew what was ahead of you if you knew what was ahead of you, you'd be glad to be stepping over tonight."
This shows minority influence, obedience to authority and internalisation. Minority influence: There were nearly a thousand residents and yet they all followed Jones orders. Obedience to authority: Jones was the leader of this community and people obeyed everything he said, even when this meant suicide and murder. This was seen as revenge on the Temples enemies. Internalisation: Jones made the people genuinely believe what he believed people also believed he was the second coming.
Jonestown massacre
Jonestown massacre
Jonestown massacre

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Jonestown massacre

  • 3. Jim Jones was the founder of a cult called the Peoples Temple Christian Church in 1977. Jonestown is the name given to the community he created. Jonestown is the informal name given to the community and its location. Jones was influenced by Unitarian Humanism, Father Divine and Marxism and wanted to create a communist community where everybody could live harmoniously together. He felt that the world had become a corrupt and unjust place and promised people a total utopia. He convinced others of his beliefs by using religion and claimed to be God and Buddha on numerous occasions.
  • 4. But things went wrong when the community became overcrowded and people decided they wanted to leave. Jones would not allow people to leave and kept them there against their will. The families of the people being kept in Jonestown alerted the authorities that their relatives were being kept against their will. The authorities went to Jonestown to investigate.
  • 5. When the authorities got to Jonestown, they realised that there was something wrong and tried to shut it down. Congressman Ryan was shot as he tried to help the people being kept captive. Now knowing that his community was under threat, Jones convinced the residents to take part in a suicide pact. In 1978, at Jones command, 909 people committed suicide by drinking poisoned punch. Cyanide was squirted into the mouths of babies and infants.
  • 6. Jones had planned the mass suicide and had previously got members to practice taking the poison as part of a loyalty test. He obtained large amounts of suicide by obtaining a jewellers license with the pretence of using the cyanide to clean gold. Jones called this revolutionary suicide, the theory was you can go down in history, saying you chose your own way to go, and it is your commitment to refuse capitalism and in support of socialism. Jones said that this would be a way for them to die with dignity. Jones said "I don't care how many screams you hear, I don't care how many anguished cries, death is a million times preferable to ten more days of this life. If you knew what was ahead of you if you knew what was ahead of you, you'd be glad to be stepping over tonight."
  • 7. This shows minority influence, obedience to authority and internalisation. Minority influence: There were nearly a thousand residents and yet they all followed Jones orders. Obedience to authority: Jones was the leader of this community and people obeyed everything he said, even when this meant suicide and murder. This was seen as revenge on the Temples enemies. Internalisation: Jones made the people genuinely believe what he believed people also believed he was the second coming.