BACKGROUND

• Jim Jones was the leader of a “religious” group called the “Peoples Temple Full Gospel Church,” that started around the mid-1950s.

• Initially more of a Marxist commune than a Christian organization. In the 1960s, Jones moved away from Marxism, and instead preached of an impending nuclear apocalypse on July 15th, 1967. After the “apocalypse” happened, a socialist paradise would be created, and “Eden” would be in Redwood Valley, CA.

• *Fun fact:* Although he was a verifiable lunatic, Jones did support racial integration.

JONESTOWN

• In the years following, Jones abandoned any pretense of Christianity; said he only used religion to legitimize his views: “Those who remained drugged with the opiate of religion had to be brought to the light—socialism.”

• Paranoid of U.S. central intelligence and afraid that the tax-exempt status of the temple would be evoked. In 1974, created “Jonestown” in Guyana, South America.

• Not a nice place—overcrowded, limited fresh drinking water, long working hours for Temple members, etc.

“DON’T DRINK THE KOOL-AID.”

• In 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan went to Jonestown, and volunteered to take anyone back to the States with him.

• Vans were attacked on the way to the airport by loyal Temple members. Many died, including Congressman Ryan.

• Jones claimed that Jonestown was no longer safe. Only solution was a “revolutionary act of suicide.” Convinced people to drink grape “flavor aid” laced with cyanide and valium.

• 918 people died in total.