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Community Unity Church Founded
After being barred from integrating African Americans at his previous church, Jim Jones founds the Community Unity Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. -
Peoples Temple Established
Jim Jones buys his first church building, naming it the Peoples Temple Full Gospel Church. Jones and its members faked healings in order to attract people. -
Healing Convention Hosted
Jones organizes a healing convention, drawing in crowds and leading attendees to believe that he possessed a supernatural gift. Following this, he renamed his church the "Peoples Temple Christian Church Full Gospel." -
Relocation to California
Following financial struggles, Jones and about 140 of his followers moved to a new location in Redwood Valley, California. -
Services Expanded
The Temple began offering services in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Temple established a formal hierarchy, with its staff being at the top. -
Peoples Temple Agricultural Project Started
The Peoples Temple rents land in Guyana, beginning a community informally named "Jonestown" -
Temple Bankrupt
The Temple declared bankruptcy, and its assets went into receivership. -
Attacks at Jonestown
Congressman Leo Ryan went to Jonestown to investigate claims of abuse, where many expressed to him their desire to leave. They accompanied Congressman Ryan, but Temple security guards began to open fire on the group, killing Ryan, three journalists, and one of the defectors. In the evening, Jim Jones forced the congregation to drink Flavor Aid laced with cyanide, which killed 918 people in total -
Peoples Temple Dissolved
Attorney Charles Garry petitioned to dissolve the Temple, which was granted in San Francisco Superior Court.