The Tragedy of Jonestown

A cult leader posing as a Christian preacher, he manipulated followers through religion, drugs,

fear, and systematic sexual abuse. Jim Jones built absolute control

by isolating members, enforcing loyalty tests, and convincing them the outside world

was their enemy. In 1978, he orchestrated the Jonestown mass murder–suicide in

Guyana. Over 900 people died — including more than 300 children — many forced to

drink poisoned liquid while armed guards stood watch. Those who resisted were injected or

shot. Escape was nearly impossible. It remains one of the largest mass

deaths caused by a single individual — and a chilling lesson in how charisma,