Jonestown Mass-Murder Suicide
“Prior to the 9/11 attack, the tragedy at Jonestown marked the single largest loss of U.S. civilian lives in a non-natural disaster”(Jonestown Massacre 2). Jim Jones, a cult leader of the Peoples Temple, was responsible for the loss of the 900+ people that died in Guyana on November 18, 1978. Before all of this Jim Jones was a normal man living a life as a preacher who preached against racism. Throughout his life he was very popular by “currying favor with public officials and the media, donated money to numerous charitable causes and delivered votes for various politicians at election times”(History Staff). Jim Jones was a cult leader that preached to 900+ people of the Peoples Temple, made hundreds of people commit suicide, and made history of the biggest loss of U.S. civilians before 9/11.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Throughout Jim Jones childhood and adulthood Jim Jones was a very religious person which changed his experience towards many things in his lifetime. Jim Jones was born on May 13, 1931 and throughout his childhood “he was a strong student, especially in public speaking, but he had few friends. His overpowering zest turned off some, and he, in turn, disliked many typical teenage boy activities such as sports, and objected what he believed to be sinful behavior, such as dancing and drinking” (Biography.com Editors). Ever since his childhood, his religious beliefs had taken over his body and viewed many things against him throughout his
“I had hope, however; I had been wounded seven times during the war, and once before in this same lung; and I did not believe I was going to die.” A fearless man with the courage to elude fellow companions, to commit thievery, and escape death so many times. Jesse James was a fearless man that had been affected by the Civil War. His contributions to a certain group made them the most feared groups over a couple years. This paper will cover his early life, contributions to the civil war, crime, personal life with his death, and how Robin Hood and James are alike/different.
We hail Jesus Christ as the messiah and savior, and we lump Jim Jones with the rest of the crazies. If you break everything down to the basics, Jesus and Jim Jones were the same person. They both managed to gain a large following, had people who feared them, and they both made the ultimate sacrifice. Somewhere along the lines something happened, a fork in the road that changed the results. Because if history had repeated itself, Jones too would be idolized and hailed as the savior of Jonestown. But instead history played out in a different way, while Jesus will be remembered for healing the sick and blessing the poor, Jim Jones will only be remembered for handing cups of cyanide-laced punch to his
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.
The Novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey revolves around a young boy named Charlie Bucktin living in the small Australian town of Corrigan in the 1960’s. Charlie is exposed to the confronting issues of racial prejudice, injustice and moral duality. He is challenged to question right from wrong, has to come to the realization that law doesn’t always uphold justice and we as readers are positioned to understand that people are capable of holding two conflicting values and remain in confortable harmony. The ideas are portrayed through Silvey’s use of narrative conventions that are used to either challenge or reinforce our values, attitudes and beliefs on the issues explored.
Charlie Bucktin learns a great deal about himself, others, Corrigan and important lessons that will help him live a better life in Jasper Jones. In the novel, Charlie goes through some experiences that teach him some of life’s great lessons. In particular he comes to learn a great deal about trust, love, facing and overcoming fear, role models and racial prejudice.
Jim Jones gave the people what they wanted to hear. He would help them try and find their better self. That is why he had such a rapid following. Many at the moment thought that the government were not taking care of them so he made them felt like they were going to be take care of. Also he made them feel like they had a community that they were not alone. He would manipulate people by using jesus name. That jesus wanted them to be a certain way or do certain things. His followers are usually vunerable people. Like for example people with addictions and the elderly. He was so persuasive that he told these elderly people to sell
James Bowie is one of few men of American folklore. With determination, strength, and strong personality James Bowie, also known as Jim Bowie, takes the true American spirit and shows what it be until his last breathe at the Alamo. James Bowie is an example of the true American spirit.
Jim Bowie is an amazing Man because he died defending Texas. He died at the alamo on his deathbed by getting stabbed. His death was a very gruesome consequences for being sick in bed and shooting two of the mexicans. Now if that is not a gruesome death, then you are crazy.
The Jonestown Conspiracy Over 900 People were killed on November 18th 1978, The Peoples temple was a Cult that moved to Guyana shortly after being Located in the United States. Shortly after moving more than 900 people drank Kool-Aid laced with Cyanide and died. This is Regarded as one of the worst Tragedies in american History Before 9/11 But what really happened? Was it truly just because of Money?
In his teens James Bowie worked in Avoyelles and Rapides parishes, where he floated lumber to market. He invested in property on the Bayou Boeuf and traded in 1817-18 at what is now Bennett's Store, south of Cheneyville. He was fond of hunting and fishing, and family tradition says that he caught and rode wild horses, rode alligators, and trapped bears. When grown, Bowie was described by his brother John as "a stout, rather raw-boned man, of six feet height, weighed 180 pounds." He had light-colored hair, keen grey eyes "rather deep set in his head," a fair complexion, and high cheek-bones. Bowie had an "open, frank disposition," but when aroused by an insult, his anger was terrible. During the War of 1812, James and Rezin joined the Second
A psychopath is a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behavior. The Reverend Jim Jones was a psychopath who ultimately lead hundreds of people to their deaths in Guyana. Although never being diagnosed officially there are signs of behavior to point to Jim Jones being a psychopath and narcissist. Why were people so reluctant to follow him and teachings, especially those of different ethnic backgrounds. Jonestown was probably one of the biggest cults America has ever seen.
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.
. At Jonestown they practiced what was called “White Knights”, these practices were just pretexts to the final massacre. White Knights included Jim preaching to the people falsities about mass genocide of African Americans in the U.S. and spies coming to murder them for their ways. His followers would then drink, or be forced to drink Cyanide laced Kool-Aid. What they didn’t know is that in these “White Knights” the Kool-Aid was untreated. This would cause them to always wonder why they were still alive after drinking it.
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).