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Peoples Temple relocates to California
Originated in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana during the 50s. After facing numerous complaints from the Indiana government, they relocated to California in the mid 1960s. -
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Peoples Temple spreads throughout California
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Peoples Temple headquarters established in San Francisco
The organization promised equality in a time full of racism and bigotry, a place where people of different skin colors could come together as equals. Most of the followers wern't crazy devotees or raving lunatics; They were good people who believed in justice and fairness, which the temple offered them. -
Jim Jones
Jim Jones, the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, was a very charismatic person. He would give sermons promoting acceptance and promises of a better land. He was even charismatic enough to cross racial lines, appealing to many by showing himself as understanding. Deep down he was an expert manipulator with communistic beliefs, and would use his followers to sway votes, gaining him a large amount of influence in local politics. -
The Peoples Temple mass migrates to Jonestown
Facing increasing media pressure over time due to dissenters leaving the group, talks of abuse by the staff, tax evasion allegations and many other issues, Jones decides to perform a mass migration to Guyana, South America. Establishing Jonestown, around 1000 followers came along. -
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Life in Jonestown
Life in Jonestown quickly took a turn for the worst. Jones quickly turned the town into a socialist communist society, with himself as its god.
-Children would be taken from parents, raised by the community
-Other religions were banned, all had to worship Jim, even went so far as to order bibles for use as toilet paper
-7 day work weeks, long hours with little to no breaks
-Escapees that were caught faced heavy punishment -
Leo Ryan arrives in Jonestown
After learning of the conflicts coming from Jonestown and flying down for an inspection, congressman Leo Ryan was initially held up by negotiations with the town. Once they finally permitted him and a few other reporters in, the town itself looked fine and prosperous, which was all an elaborately staged play. Informs Jones that he will give the town a good review upon returning, but Jones was too paranoid and took it badly. -
The massacre occurs
A group of Jonestown enforcers are sent to kill Ryan and his group, shooting them at the airport. Meanwhile Jones enacts his mass suicide plan, gathering everyone up to poison them with cyanide. Some go willingly, many resist and are forced to kill themselves by armed guards. A few escape into nearby woods, hunted by enforcers trying to kill them. Guyana police are alterted and rush to the scene, followed closely by local military. The USA is informed as well, sending their own military forces. -
The aftermath of the massacre
Some of Ryans group survived, but many didnt, including Ryan himself. Searches are made for survivors, many sent to hospitals in critical condition. Jones himself is found dead with a few others by gunshot wounds; Its unknown if they were suicide or not. In the end, many bodies are flown back to the US, to be identified by grieving family members and given proper burials.
