Jonestown Argumentative Essay

620 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A thesis on the jonestown massacre

There is so much that can be learned from the past. Especially from an event that was as catastrophic as this one. How does one person gain such a grip on so many people? How was he able to influence them to change their entire life’s to conform to what he wanted. Somehow he was able to get them to move to a completely new place and create a world all their (his) own. How does one person convince and force so many people that it was time for their life to end? How does he force them to kill themselves? So many questions that are still being answered to this day. There are plenty of movies and research done on this event but there is still a lot to learn.
Annie Moore one of the people who died in Jonestown said these last haunting words: “We died because you would not let us live”. That chilling sentence says so much about the grip Jim Jones had on his followers. Once he had them under his control they weren’t even allowed to think for themselves let alone do anything else freely. Jim Jones started to lose it when the congressman, the relatives, and the media began to question what was going on in Jonestown.
There is a lot to learn from Jonestown and it all depends on the way that you view it. You can try to look at it in a positive light and see the good things that a place like that has to offer. There was as sense of community, an attempt at eliminating racisms and inequality as well as reducing the effects of poverty. Many things …show more content…

(2013, December 13). What we can learn from Jonestown? Retrieved from http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=30846
Olsson, P. (2014, February 27). Thirty Years Later: Thoughts About Prevention of Future Jonestowns. Retrieved from http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=31430
Steele, R. (2013, December 3). Learning About Jonestown. Retrieved from http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=33225
Wettendorff, R. (2014, February 17). Truly Learning from Jonestown. Retrieved from

Show More
Related

  • Leadership on the Frontier: Sacagawea Edition

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...et al. Vol. 4: Primary Sources. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 146-161. U.S. History in Context. Print. 17 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • The Lives and Work of James Earl Jones and Geoffrey Holder

    2296 Words  | 5 Pages

    James Earl Jones’s early life was difficult, and he was a part of the Great Migration. He was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi in 1931. Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents, for his father had left his mother when Jones was very young. She too left him at a young age, but visited from time to time. “I rejoiced in her visits, yet her impending departure brought me to grief” (Jones 18). Jones’s grief was routed in a feeling of abandonment. His did not see his father for many years, and his mother’s visits were infrequent, but his grandparents were very loving, and he would respect them as his parents (Jones 21). His attachment to his grandparents profoundly affected his life when he was nearly abandoned again. At age 5, his grandparents decided to move north to Michigan, and on the way they stopped by Memphis, Tennessee where they attempted to leave Jones with his paternal grandmother. ...

    Read More

  • Positive During A Conflict: Anne Frank, Dear Miss Breed

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the midst of that catastrophe, many people took their own lives so they wouldn’t have to face conflict afterwards. This shows why many people think a conflict will never have a positive outcome.

    Read More

  • Bayonet Argumentative Essay

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1893, Queen Lili’uokalani of Hawaii gave up her throne to the United States of America. About five years after in 1898, Hawaii was officially annexed and became a part of the U.S.A. During this time, the Hawaiian people were bitter and mournful as they watched the foreigners slowly take over their kingdom. Many foreigners came to Hawaii to achieve one goal, to increase the power of foreigners and decrease the power of Native Hawaiians. The kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown with the use of force and was unethically taken. Although Hawaii received benefits that were mainly in their economy, it still does not make up for the wrongful taking of the Hawaiian kingdom.

    Read More

  • Vigilantism During the California Gold Rush

    2359 Words  | 5 Pages

    Vigilantism is the black eye on the history of the American frontier. During the 19th century due to a lack of trust, competence, or unreliable law enforcement, the settlers on the frontiers took it upon themselves to provide security and safety for their newly progressing cities. Life in the developing American west was difficult and created many problems for everyone involved. Texas’ history is riddled with skirmishes, wars, and feuds that called upon the local civilians to turn to vigilantism. So to, Arizona and New Mexico, while struggling to gain their statehood, saw instances of civilian uprisings to quell local violence. Of course, however, neither Texas nor the American Southwest saw the hotbed of violence and destruction that was seen in San Francisco following the introduction of the Gold Rush. The descriptions that were used to describe the excitement that the discovery of gold created could also be just as easily applied to the ways it affected the peoples mentality. “In 1848 and 1849 it was usually known as the ‘Gold Fever,’ the ‘California Fever,’ the ‘Yellow Fever,’ the ‘California Mania,’ and the ‘Gold Mania.” People from all over the globe were abandoning their responsibilities and duties for the chance of striking it rich and making a big splash. This dramatic influx of people, cultures, and beliefs into one location created the right mix of hope, frustration, anger, and pride that would lead to chaos and even though “San Francisco had the most efficient, most professional police department in the United States [during the 19th century]” it could not quell the need for vigilantes to rise up and provide order amongst lawlessness.

    Read More

  • The Turn Of The Screw Argumentative Essay

    1431 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Turn of the Screw by Henry James has been the cause of many debates about whether or not the ghosts are real, or if this is a case of a woman with psychological disturbances causing her to fabricate the ghosts. The story is told in the first person narrative by the governess and is told only through her thoughts and perceptions, which makes it difficult to be certain that anything she says or sees is reliable. It starts out to be a simple ghost story, but as the story unfolds it becomes obvious that the governess has jumps to conclusions and makes wild assumptions without proof and that the supposed ghosts are products of her mental instability which was brought on by her love of her employer

    Read More

  • The Jonestown Massacre: Jim Jones

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...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.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Battle Of Bunker Hill

    227 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Americans heard that the British would try to gain the hills around Boston. After receiving the information, the Americans quickly and secretly move their troops over to Bunker and Breeds Hills. They built fortresses and got ready for the British to arrive. The Americans had a higher ground, giving them a big advantage, all the Americans had to do was just aim downwards and fire. The British were charging up the hills and attempted to take over the high ground. The Americans ran out of ammunitions and had to throw rocks, this resulted to the British taking over the higher ground but at the cost of hundreds of their soldiers life.

    Read More

  • Jonestown Sociology

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jim Jones and his infamous cult entitled, “The People’s Temple,” holds an interesting value to social psychology. Jonestown is a topic that can relate back to many sociology terms and ideas. Jonestown can be related to social deviance, the effect of American culture on social groups, labelling theory, charismatic authority, and even shows how societal history often repeats itself. American society during the late 60’s-70’s is what led to the creation of Jonestown. Jonestowns downfall provided a lot of insight to the American public of how society needed to change, proving that the deaths of about 900 people weren’t for nothing.

    Read More

  • Potsdam Argumentative Essay

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    The bomb should have been dropped on Japan. This, was the quickest way to end the war, saving lives, money, and economic downfall. If America had invaded Japan we could have lost over 750,000 troops of just American lives. Instead 200,000 lives had been lost, money saved, and the war ended. If America had tried to invade, continue its sanctions, bombings, and barricades, the war could have taken many more months, even years. This not only costs America money and creates the beginning of economic downfall, it increases the suffering of Japanese people for a longer duration of time. The bomb being dropped was not ideal, although it was clearly the best option given the situation that the United States of America was handed. The United States

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Other Wes Moore

    1069 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book is telling a story about two African American boys (Wes A and Wes P) who have the same name and grew up at same community, but they have a very different life. The author, Wes A, begins his life in a tough Baltimore neighborhood and end up as a Rhodes Scholar, Wall Streeter, and a white house fellow; The other Wes Moore begins at the same place in Baltimore , but ends up in prison for the rest of his life. Then why do they have the same experience, but still have a totally different life? I will agree here that environment (family environment, school education environment and society environment) is one of the biggest reasons for their different.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Argumentative Essay

    433 Words  | 1 Pages

    I, Jeremiah Finch, believe that everyone, no matter what their color, should receive justice and equal rights in court. Like Atticus says, every man should be equal at least in court, every man deserves a fair trial where his word will be believed to be as good as any others. Tom Robinson did not receive a fair trial. The no good jury decided to believe the lies of the white trash Ewells who are disgraces to Maycomb. The trial wasn’t based off of justice, evidence, an’ truth, it was based off of color. Good righteous judges and lawyers sho’ should be able to make up for the worthless men on the jury. I told all this to Miss Maudie one day after the trial, while Scout, me, and Dill was eating her famous Lane Cake. Black men just aren’t treated the same as white men down here, and I know it

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Argumentative Essay

    288 Words  | 1 Pages

    Atticus never does anything like the other dads, he is the worst father ever; he does not teach Scout and I how to shoot or play football with the other men, and he plays checkers and a Jew’s Harp. Today, Scout and I decided to take our new air rifles for a test in the woods and shoot some wildlife. Unfortunately, little did we know it, but there was a mad dog near us. We then went over to Cal and told her we saw a dog acting strange; she found out that it was a mad dog that was on the loose, and dashed to phone Atticus. After that, she immediately calls Miss Eula May, the town telephone operator, to tell her to let everyone on the street know that they should stay out of the way of the rabid animal. Disastrously, the Radleys don’t have a phone,

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Film Jonestown: The Life And Death Of People's Temple

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Mcdonald's Argumentative Essay

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    As can be assumed, just by knowing me, the best food I’ve ever eaten is McDonald’s. To be more specific, their McNuggets. While although I find other foods to be more tasteful, there’s just something about McDonald’s that makes its rank #1 in my book. I have been obsessed with McDonald’s McNuggets since the dawn of time--- not really, but it’s been awhile. From scarfing down a Happy Meal when I was 7, all the way to devouring a 20 Piece at the age of 17, I’ve always been big on the whole McNugget thing. 9 times out of 10, they’re fresh out of the fryer: they literally make my tastebuds explode. My obsession once got so bad, that I ate a McDonald’s 10 Piece Nugget meal (large, I might add), everyday for nearly two weeks straight before getting

    Read More

More about Jonestown Argumentative Essay

Open Document