Jim Jones And The Jonestown Massacre Essay

The Jonestown Massacre was one of America’s greatest tragedies in history. Due to extreme Racism and persecution innocent people were driven to create a socialistic society only to realize there is no such thing. There are many causes and effects to the event of Jonestown massacre. Some examples of those causes and effects are the background, events, responses, and efforts. Jim Jones and the people of Peoples temple did not set out to be one of america's worst massacres, they just want equality and to escape racism in the U.S. when a leader with a lot of responsibility, lets the power go to his head and it resulted in failure.

Knowing this man is to love this man. He has been a great role model for and during the civil rights movement and so much more. This man’s name is John Lewis Others may say he is someone who just wanted to start trouble and he should leave things the way they were. By analyzing his early life, his education, becoming a civil rights activist, and a U.S. Congressman, I will be able to show you why I think he is a great person all around. It is also clear that John Lewis shaped his time.

Fighting for rights does not have to be violent. Mother Jones fought for child labor laws, Cesar Chavez fought for migrant workers’ rights, and Gandhi fought for independence from Britain. Mother Jones, Cesar Chavez, and Mahatma Gandhi all helped to enact change by using peaceful methods to get their points across.

It was after a group of young men start attacking to part of John Lewis’s group and eventually beating up everyone around. He declares, “I was not afraid. I felt free, liberated like I had crossed over” (Lewis and Aydin 1:102). The beginning of new era had begun, a new John Lewis who was not afraid of anything. His commitment with the movement was unparalleled. It shows how strong his personality is, maybe he is trying to say that nothing was going to stop him…. What was the worst thing that could happen to him? Go to jail? Again? Seems like he is always going to make his best effort to make this country a little bit better… just like he says, “We wanted to change America – to make it something different, something better.” (Lewis and Aydin 1:103). It was not about him or a reduced group of people, it was about an oppressed community that was suffering injustice as we can’t even imagine. Lewis also says, “The first of many” (Lewis and Aydin 1:103). Just in case we did not understand his first message, this one was clear and loud, he will keep protesting no matter what or who. Unfortunately, his parents did not in the same way as he did with the news of his first arrest. He tells us, “When my parents found out I’d been arrested and gone to jail, they were devastated. I was an embarrassment, a source of

One of the worlds best known advocates of non-violent social change strategies was Martin Luther King Jr. He synthesized ideals drawn from many different cultural traditions. The image of a social activist and leader was the result of extensive formal education, strong personal values and licit ethics. This excellence in leadership can be traced to his character, which is shaped by his moral values and

Mother Jones is also another individual who is extremely caring and important especially when it comes to Child Labor Laws. Mother Jones fought for child labor laws by “The March of the Mill Children” which was when herself and some of the mill children marched to the President. After seeing the mill children and the terrible working conditions, Mother Jones decided it was time to take a stand to prevent children from these awful conditions, since they were paid very little and not fed properly. “In countless shacks and shanties across the country, she had tied the shoes of

Jones has carved out a niche for his insanity in the dark nooks and crannies of the internet and radio, and he reportedly has big fans in the White House, too. If people want to hear what Jones

Would you dedicate your life to standing up for our human rights? Mother Jones, Cesar Chavez, and Jimmy Carter all dedicated part of their life to help bring justice into areas they believed needed it most. Cesar Chavez wanted to help migrant workers. While Mother Jones helped bring attention to child labor and Jimmy Carter wanted to help with the human rights of all people. Although their motivations were different, all three people fought for the human rights of many children and adults, some motivated by their childhood and others straight from their heart, to promote freedom and change.

Activists fought for what the believed in like Malala Yousafzai, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr who fought for what they believed in. The one who first started all this activism was Jane Addams (1860-1935). Jane Addams was the national chairman for the woman's peace party. But then was Gandhi, he said that you should fight your Enemies with peace, not with violence. But he had died on January 30, 1948. Later was Martin Luther king jr.

The mass suicides, that took place under the influence of Reverend Jim Jones, can be explained from a sociological perspective. By looking at how the group dynamics played into the outcome one gets a better idea of the whys? of the massacre. The sociological explanation is but one way to explain this horrific event. It is , however, the only one explored in this essay for reasons of concision.

During his involvement in the movement Lewis underwent many trials all of which influenced his position on the matter. In one of his struggles Lewis went to Jail. Lewis can be quoted saying, “February 27, 1960 was my first arrest, the first of many” (Lewis 103). This passage is stating that Lewis was arrested which caused him to change. This event sealed in Lewis his passion in this war against injustices.

Congressman Ryan and other four people shot and the rest were peoples temple dead. Kool-Aid poison punch was found and there were testimonies from people that scape from the murders. Victim details- According to “Jim Jones Bio”(2014) five people were shot including congressman Ryan, the big majority were part of his followers as a church and those were the ones that drink the poison. Jim jones had everything in mind since he fake the people once by telling them in San Francisco that the punch that what they were drinking was poison and all of them were going to die. That proves that he already wanted to see the reaction of the people in such event. Were there other police investigations? There was not an official police investigation previous to the murder, but there were complains of people about Jim Jones prohibiting people of leave the town. That’s why congressman Ryan travel to Jonestown to check if the complains were

The mass suicides, that took place under the influence of Reverend Jim Jones, can be explained from a sociological perspective. By looking at how the group dynamics played into the outcome one gets a better idea of the whys? of the massacre. The sociological explanation is but one way to explain this horrific event. It is , however, the only one explored in this essay for reasons of concision.

     Jim was brought up as a Methodist. He became quickly fascinated with the pulpit oratory. Vera Price, a childhood playmate remembers, ”He’d always be the preacher, standing up making sermons”(Axthelm 54). Even at the young age of seven Vera, recalls Jim’s speeches encouraging strict discipline. She remembers occasions when Jim was playing with other children and “he’d hit them with a stick and make them cry. He had a power that most boys don’t have”(Axthelm 54). As Jim matured into a young adult this internal power he possessed was not fully matured. In high school Jim was in the popular crowd, but never the leader of the pack. “Only in retrospect does anyone claim to have spotted seeds of the horror to come.’ I had a hunch something bad was going to happen to him,’ says a middle-aged man in Lynn. He was smart as a whip. But he had some strange ideas. He never fit in with the town. He was different”(Axthelm 54).

The changes society had undertaken during the time was a vast advantage to Jim Jones and allowed him to gain followers for the Peoples' Temple. Because of the war in Vietnam and racial tension people felt a strong calling to take action, especially the youth of America. Whether in protest, service, or community support they wanted to be involved in a fight that would create an impact. Jim Jones wanted youth in his church since they were more open-minded and he catered to their desires to be a part of something greater. Jones was for the black man and integration. His family was integrated and so was the Peoples' Temple. He believed firmly in activism and made some contributions to politicians in their campaigning by having members of his congregation at rallies, protests, and even going door to door. It was a politicians dream ensemble due to of the diversity of age and ethnicity. They were enthusiastic to be there, always on time, and there where so many members willing to be whatever was needed . Jones benefited from his congregations activism by becoming the appointed chairman of housing while in San Francisco. Parts of the social