The Jonestown Massacre is among the most brutal cult slayings in the history of America. However, what exactly occurred at Jonestown is ambiguous. Did the members of the People’s Temple unanimously agree to commit suicide by cyanide poisoning or were they forced with guns to give up their lives by drinking poison and receiving lethal injections? “The Black Hole of Guyana- The Untold Story of the Jonestown Massacre” by researcher, John Judge, and A Thousand Lives by journalist and nonfiction writer, Julia Scheeres, both thoroughly discuss the events of Jonestown using empirical evidence. Evidence shows that the Jonestown Massacre was not a mass suicide, like it was portrayed by the United States government, but a diabolical plan to murder its …show more content…
members. Jim Jones, and the intelligence agencies that were closely monitoring and funding Jonestown, feared the American public would eventually be informed of the occurrences in Jonestown. The statement of a “mass-suicide” occurring reigns untrue due to the direct and circumstantial evidence provided by the coroner of Guyana and witness accounts of the events. The Jonestown Massacre is a prime example of the extremities of religious cults and how the American government will attempt indefinitely to obscure their mistakes.
Before the People’s Temple migrated to Guyana, it was a church with thousands of followers who praised Christ and desired social change in society. The leader of the People’s Temple, Jim Jones, was an avid drug user and paranoid over conspiracy theories and negative media attention regarding his church. So, in the 1970s, two decades after the church was established, Jim Jones persuaded over 1,000 of his followers to journey into the Guyanese jungle by promising to constitute a utopian society. Then, on November 18th, 1978, more than 900 members- not including Congressman Ryan and other members of his delegation who ventured to Guyana on suspicion of abuse and were ambushed and killed- of the People’s Temple died under the orders of Jim Jones in the settlement they deemed “Jonestown”. Bodies lay in rows, on top of one another, and sprawled out all over Jonestown and all evidence depicted …show more content…
murder. The article, “The Black Hole of Guyana- The Untold Story of the Jonestown Massacre” was written by John Judge in 1985- 7 years after the Jonestown Massacre. This article details a significant amount of information regarding the Jonestown Massacre, such as: the original story of the Jonestown Massacre, the discrepancies of the United States’ accounts of the events, official coroner reports of the Jonestown Massacre, the life of Jim Jones and how he chose theocation of Jonestown, survivor accounts of what transpired on the trip to Guyana and in Jonestown, and the strange connection to the murder of Martin Luther King and CIA intelligence. Survivor reports and the evidence discovered obviously depicts a Jonestown contradictive to the utopian society illustrated to the American public and families of the members. According to survivors’ reports cited by Judge, the blacks were isolated from the rest of the group after being gagged at the airport in Florida; members worked for 16 to 18 hours daily and were forced to listen to Jones’s voice on the speaker all hours of the day; beatings, forced drugging, and public raping were daily occurrences (11). The argument presented by the author is the atrocities that befell Jonestown were concealed by the U.S. government, which is why the author focuses on comparing direct and circumstantial evidence found at Jonestown to initial reports by the United States and elaborating on the reasons as to why the U.S government masked the truth. The members did not gather at the town hall and sing joyous hymns and worship Christ. They were used segregated by skin color, separated from their loved ones, and forced to work as slaves. Instead of the horrific abuse being displayed in newspapers all over the country, the press screamed about the “"Kool-Aid Suicides”. “Reconstructing Reality: Conspiracy Theories About Jonestown” by Rebecca Moore appeared in Journal of Popular Culture, volume 36.
Moore begins the essay by explaining how her cab driver claimed to be in the Air Force in November 1978 and was in contact with people who participated in the evacuation of bodies in Jonestown. His theory that the CIA was involved was sustained with the evidence that “Joe Holsinger, Congressman Ryan’s Legislative Assistant, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Operations in 1980 that the CIA had a covert operation in Guyana” (Moore). John Judge agrees that the CIA did take part in the Jonestown Massacre as well. He discloses that Jim Jones had a long-term relationship with CIA associate Dan Mitrione and Congressman Ryan consistently challenged the Agency’s operations in Guyana- considering the State Department did not show him reports of violations in Jonestown but frequently showed Jones copies of congressional inquiries further supports the claim that the CIA was quite aware of the barbarities occurring in Jonestown, if not partaking in them as
well. “THE CUP OF THE LORD- Reflections on the Difference Between Martyrdom & Suicide Thirty Years after Jonestown” by Patrick M. Clark renders an opposing view. Clark quotes Bible scripture to support his belief that the people of Jonestown died as martyrs and voluntarily immolated their lives by drinking the cyanide poison. On the contrary, Judge states a crucial fact of how the Guyanese pathologist, Dr. Mootoo, examined the bodies and discovered that not many of the bodies portrayed symptoms of cyanide poisoning, like muscle spasms or contorted limbs- which contradicts the United States’ depiction of the deaths and Clark’s depicted in his essay. Instead, Dr. Mootoo discovered that members were shot, strangled, or lethally injected.
The United States government initially celebrated the Battle at Wounded Knee as the final conflict between Native Americans and the United States military - after which the western frontier was considered safe for the incoming settlers. Over 20 medals were awarded to the soldiers for their valor on the battlefield. However, the understanding has changed regarding what actually took place at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. The Hollywood version of the Battle of Wounded Knee accurately presents the case that the Battle at Wounded Knee was actually a massacre of the Sioux - the culminating act of betrayal and aggression carried out by the United States military,
The battle of Saratoga was a significant turning point in the American Revolutionary War. This key conflict was, in fact, two significant battles that shaped America’s struggle for independence. The battles were fought 18 days apart in the same location - 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York. John Burgoyne, the British General, had an initial strategy to divide New England from the southern colonies. This was at first successful when the British took Pennsylvania, but hit a snag when Burgoyne met the Continental Army at Freeman’s Farm on September 19, 1777 - the first of the Saratoga battles. This was a tactical victory for the British, but it came at a price, as their casualties were heavy. It was known that the British won this Battle at Freeman’s Farm, but in actuality, they didn’t have many troops left. On October 7, in the Battle of Bemis Heights, the second Battle of Saratoga, Britain attacked America again as Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken and his command captured. At this battle, the Americans were able to capture a large number of British troops, ultimately resulting in Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17, 1777. The Battle of Saratoga is well known to be “one of the most important victories of the conflict and an early success for the colonists.” The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback at the Battle of Brandywine. They had also received news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British. Significantly with the success at Saratoga, France gained the confidence to enter the war as an American ally. The Battle of Saratoga was a war-altering conflict between the America...
On March 5th, 1770 the colonists were going to protest against the British rule because they were being unfair to the colonists, with taxes being passed without the colonists’ approval. The proclamation of 1763 didn’t help stopping people from settling across the Appalachian mountains even though people fought for it. Also each house had to house and feed a soldier. Many other taxes on different items also caused colonists to be angry. Many started to protest one of these protests had the colonists in front of government building with weapons the British soldiers then fired killing five and injuring others. There was not a massacre on March 5, 1770 in Boston because there was not a massacre on March 5, 1770 in Boston because less than ten colonists
On the morning of April 20, 1999, Eric Davis Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold went into the Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, and went on a rampage killing spree leaving 12 students and 1 teacher dead and over 20 people injured before killing themselves. This crime is known as one of the most deadliest school massacres in the United States history (Pittaro).
One of the darkest times in American history was the conflict with the natives. A “war” fought with lies and brute force, the eviction and genocide of Native Americans still remains one of the most controversial topics when the subject of morality comes up. Perhaps one of the most egregious events to come of this atrocity was the Sand Creek Massacre. On the morning of November 29th, 1864, under the command of Colonel John Chivington, 700 members of the Colorado Volunteer Cavalry raped, looted, and killed the members of a Cheyenne tribe (Brown 86-94). Hearing the story of Sand Creek, one of the most horrific acts in American History, begs the question: Who were the savages?
On February 8th, 1968, shots were fired on a crowd of civil rights protesters and that day became known as one of the saddest days in South Carolina history. Many problems occurred in South Carolina, mostly between blacks and whites over issues about civil rights and segregation. These issues in South Carolina lasted many years and led to many events, protests, and even massacres that all resulted in sometimes very horrible outcomes but also bringing South Carolina one step further to getting rid of segregation. One horrible event that took place in the late 60’s was the Orangeburg Massacre that resulted in a few deaths and some injuries but also furthered integration in Orangeburg. In 1968, due to the conflict between civil rights protestors
The events of March 5, 1770 should and have been remembered as momentous and predictable. Perhaps not the night or city specifically, but the state of affairs in Boston, if not throughout The English Colonies, had declined to the point that British troops found themselves frequently assaulted with stones, dirt, and human feces. The opinions and sentiments of either side were certainly not clandestine. Even though two spectators express clear culpability for the opposing side, they do so only in alteration of detail. The particulars of the event unfold the same nonetheless. The happening at the Custom House off King Street was a catastrophic inevitability. Documents from the Boston Massacre trial, which aid us in observing from totally different perceptions. The depositions of witnesses of the event prove to be useful; an English officer Captain Preston and a colonial Robert Goddard give relatively dissimilar details. In spite of these differences, they still both describe the same state of affairs.
On the 29th o April, 1977 Captain Cook, commander of a British fleet, landed on the eastern shore of Australia, in an attempt to claim the land under the name of Britain. The land was to be claimed by Britain as a land where the British government could send convicts; in an attempt to ease the struggle in the over flowing prisons. Upon Cooks arrival, he was ordered to follow three rules of claiming a foreign land. They were;
The Boston Massacre was one the most controversial massacre in American history that teased the coming of the American Revolution. People were taunting a British soldier who was standing “in front of the Boston Custom House” who got very frustrated to the point where he hit somebody. The soldier got overwhelmed by people who came after he hit one of them, called help from his fellow soldiers. When Captain Preston and his soldiers arrived at the scene, people were coming from everywhere, some were trying to fight them and some were just there to watch. Then, one of the soldier shot at the people and his fellow soldiers started shooting after, which killed five people. This what ended it up being called the Boston Massacre. Some might say that the murderer were the soldiers who shot the people, but the real murderer is
...s already small portions of food and horrible tasks given to those who didn’t obey Jim Jones. Also, Reverend jones clearly didn’t mind the fact that he was forcing more than nine hundred people to commit suicide, a third if them children. Being me, I feel like the way Jim Jones treated these people, and the way he led this cult compound was completely wrong. I feel like Peoples Temple was a humungous mistake. I also feel truly sorry for those who lose friends and family in this horrible event and for those who went through this. Although this is all over the Jim jones Massacre will forever be remembered and never be forgotten.
The burning of Washington D. C happened in 1814 when British troops led by General Robert Ross who took over the capitol and ordered his men to burn the Washington D. C and the White House. The British did this because the Americans had burned down York (Toronto), the British did this to embarrass the nation of America. The capitol was left unprotected because the secretary of war said that the British were going to go to Baltimore so know barricades were put in the way or militia being called. On August 14, 1814, a battle at Bladensburg, Maryland about 9 miles from Washington D.C. There was a force of 6000 American troops and 4000 British Troops, even though the Americans and an advantage in numbers they were not organized but the 4000 British
The Boston Massacre was a fundamental event at the beginning of the American Revolution. The massacre became part of anti-British propaganda for Boston activists and fed American fears of the English military in both the North and South. The Boston Massacre was the first “battle” in the Revolutionary War. Although it wasn’t until five years after the Boston Massacre that the Revolutionary War officially began, the Boston Massacre was a forecast of the violent storm to come.
Do you know the difference between the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre? Do you know the outcomes of both of them? Do you know who was involved? well both the Battle of the Alamo and the Goliad Massacre have a lot of information on all of this. You get to know the reasons for the battles, the outcomes, and even the tactics.
The People’s Temple was religious cult founded and lead by Jim Jones, based in Jonestown, Guyana. The converts belonging to Peoples Temple may have joined for various reasons differing from one another, yet the one common bond they all shared was Jim Jones. They loved Jim, they feared Jim, and eventually they died for Jim .
On November 18, 1978, a notorious religious organization lead by Jim Jones became international news. As a result of manipulation and isolation, Jim Jones influenced his followers to commit suicide. Not only, but his followers were utterly convinced that what they were doing was for a good cause, specifically, a political movement. With kool-aid and a dash of cyanide, 918 people, adults and children, ended their lives that day. The aftermath of this horrific event resulted in numerous documentaries, on of which being, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple. Created in 2006, this documentary gives a thorough and accurate account of the events that lead up to as well as occured that day.