Following

Jim Jones (May 13th, 1931- November 18th, 1978) was infamously known as the man who led the members of the “People’s Temple” church to their mass suicide in Jonestown. Jones established a church with devoted followers, eventually they formed their own society in Guyana, and viewed today as a religious cult. The church came to a tragic ending when Jim Jones instructed the church members to commit ritual suicide by drinking poison Kool-Aid, thus ending the lives of 918 Americans.

The definition of the American Dream is determined by that of the individual trying to achieve it. To some, it could mean one thing, while to others a completely different standard is achievable. To Jim Jones, his dream was for people to take after his words, almost worshiping him. This dream is centered around one thing: having a following.

Jim Jones is famously known throughout the country as the leader of the largest mass suicide. He established a church known as the “People’s Temple” which ended up being a religious cult. This came to a tragic end when 918 of the church’s members committed suicide under Jim Jones’ instruction. This suicide was “the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act” until 9/11.This occurred in Jonestown, Guyana after members of the church had killed a United States congressman after he and other members tried to leave. Though not all members of the People’s Temple fellowship died in Jonestown, the following ended after that detrimental event.

The development of the People’s Temple was successful, blooming from a small following Jones developed in 1956. His mission started as he set out to achieve his social goals by becoming a racial integrationist, encouraging the church to welcome African Americans. By 1960, Mayor Boswell had appointed Jones to be the director of the Human Rights Commission.  Through this status he provided influence on desegregating social institutions. He appealed to African Americans, also other races, by his drive for social change and support he provided the community. His social standing started the drive for him to reach his dream- and that was to gain followers who could have the same mentality as him and uphold the same values.

How could one person have that much influence on the lives of that many, coercing them to end their lives forever? Jim Jones’ achieved this through his strength of gaining a loyal following and ensuring them that what they were doping was the true and only right way. Jones used his understanding of being an outcast, thus developing his foundation geared towards those individuals who felt left out of society; specifically, black Americans who supported the Civil Rights movement. He appealed to those who didn’t have a specific place set in stone or those who didn’t particularly know their religious beliefs. “Every single person felt they had a purpose there and they were exceptionally special…so many from diverse backgrounds who realized that there was something bigger than themselves they needed to be involved in and Jim Jones offered that.” He established a following by making the members of the church feel valued and creating purpose for them. Regarding his “American Dream” the amount of people who supported him and followed him, how some would argue aimlessly, helped him achieve it.

The eventual alienation of the People’s Temple supported the loyal relationship the church’s members had to Jones’. By moving the church away from the society, it had once been a part of, it forced the members to have true dedication to one thing- that thing being Jim Jones. Though starting its roots in Indianapolis, Jones relocated the church to California in 1963 by convincing the members that a nuclear war was coming, and California was a far enough distance away to be safe. Soon after, the pressure is put on by the public, when they express their concern with what Jones was doing. Many concerned relatives of the church’s members expressed worries. Jones relocated the church and himself to Jonestown in Guyana and created a society there for them to devote to their purpose and congregation.

The members surely had no idea of their inevitable future. The turn of events that ended the lives of many started when Congressman Leo Ryan came to visit Jonestown and evaluate if human rights abuses were occurring. After his visit he intended to return home, some members of Jonestown joined him, but that departure was ended when members of Jones’ “Red Brigade” opened fire on them at the airstrip, killing 5 people including congressman Ryan. Jones then convinced his followers that they must commit “revolutionary suicide” in order to avoid the torture the government will inflict on them and their children because of these killings. With that logic, Jones convinced 900+ people to drink cyanide poisoning.

Jim Jones set out to gain a following his values and beliefs had been rejected by society. He was able to achieve his “American Dream” through the support he gained through founding a religion that attracted many loyal followers. His dream came to an end at the same time it reached its peak. Having such devotion to him and his cause, his followers followed him one last time, by killing themselves under Jones’ instruction. While it is morbid to others, his American Dream flourished with the results of Jonestown.