Jonestown was the site of a 1978 mass death involving the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones. More than 900 people died there after Jones ordered followers to drink poison, and some were forced or coerced to do so; he also ordered the killing of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan and others nearby.

What happened

Jonestown was a remote settlement in Guyana built by the Peoples Temple. In the final events on November 18, 1978, Jones pushed what he called “revolutionary suicide,” and people were given a poisoned drink; many of the victims were children, and Jones later died of a gunshot wound.

Why it matters

The tragedy is widely understood as a mass murder-suicide rather than a simple suicide event, because many people were pressured, restrained, or injected against their will. It remains one of the deadliest mass deaths in U.S. history and a major example of cult coercion and abuse.

Short version

  • Jim Jones led the Peoples Temple.
  • The group moved to Jonestown, Guyana.
  • After violence involving Congressman Leo Ryan, Jones ordered the mass poisoning.
  • Over 900 people died.

If you want, I can also give you a 5-sentence plain-English version or a timeline of the events.