Why did the Jonestown massacre happen?
1 Answer
Jim Jones and the People's Temple
Explanation:
Jim Jones and the People's Temple was founded by Jim Jones in Indianapolis, Indiana. The whole idea of this new type of Christianity was to intermix Christian principles with communist-like adherences. Church spread throughout the country. Jones then moved his main base of operations to Guyana. Jones moved there after numerous articles criticizing him and his church. When Jones left, a lot of members went with him as well. They founded the town called Jonestown for the church. The massacre started when Congressman Leo Ryan (D-CA 11th) personally went to Guyana to investigate claims of abuse by church defectors. When he landed on the airstrip, church security guards opened fire on him. Killing Ryan, a few journalists, and a defector. Back at the Church, Jones then persuaded his congregation to drink cyanide-laced Flavor-Aid. The reason why it happened is because Jones basically scared them into drinking the Flavor-Aid. Jones claimed that because of Ryan's murder, the US Gov't would "parachute into out of the air, they'll shoot some of our innocent babies." He also is to have said that they would torture them, their seniors, and children. The death toll is estimated at 918 from the whole event (the poisoning and the shooting at the airport) The reaction was huge. Cult religions and Cult life were looked at more closely after this incident and the world became more aware of these types of groups.
Interesting Fact: Jackie Speier was a Congressional staffer who traveled with Leo Ryan. She was one of 2 people that made out wills before going on the Congressional mission. She was ambushed with Ryan and the others. She hid behind the wheel of the airplane and was shot 5 times. It was 22 hours before help came. Today she is a congresswomen who represents much of the same area the Leo Ryan did back then.
