9/11 Events and Repercussions

By Alan Long

9/11/2001 Remembered

September 11, 2001

Imagine waking up on a beautiful, clear day on September 11, 2001, in New York City and thinking that you were going to have a great day. Your day starts early, waking before dawn to allow time to reach the station, board a train, and then transfer to a subway or bus to reach your workplace before rush hour. The commute is spent reading, working, napping, or observing the busy city environment. When you arrive at your destination, everything seems normal and then?!

Open Ended

What do you know about the events that took place on 9-11-2001?

Write one to two sentences.

Imagine being in my class on September 11, 2001. How would you have reacted based on what you know about the events that happened? We might have had a TV in the classroom at the time; however, most news that we would have received would have been from the administration with an announcement.

** Now think about what September 12, 2001 must have been like for everyone living in a different world.

1. An increased police presence everywhere.
2. If you looked or dressed different, you might have been judged or viewed differently by other people.
3. What if you or a loved one have lost someone in the heinous attacks the day before, what would life have been like?
4. What if the missing family member or coworker was the financial provider for their family?

Imagine:

​Imagine arriving at the airport an hour before your flight and being screened by a minimally trained security person. Walking through a metal detector and the departing on a trip to LA or San Francisco from the east coast on vacation, business, or to visit family and anticipating a good flight. Then!?
The four hijacked aircraft on September 11, 2001, departed from three East Coast airports: Boston Logan International Airport, Newark International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.

All four were early-morning, transcontinental flights bound for California. 

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

• American Airlines Flight 11: Departed for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

• United Airlines Flight 175: Departed for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 

Newark International Airport (EWR)

• United Airlines Flight 93: Departed for San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

• American Airlines Flight 77: Departed for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 

Multiple Choice

How many airplanes were hijacked on 9/11?

• 2
• 4
• 19
• 17

Multiple Choice

Where did the first two flights crash?

• Pentagon
• Twin towers
• A field in Pennsylvania
• The ocean

Economically speaking, Al-Qaeda targeted the World Trade Center because the Twin Towers symbolized American economic power, globalization, and prosperity. The terrorist group did not have the military capability to defeat the U.S. outright, so they sought to undermine the nation by striking highly symbolic targets. 

The attack was designed to inflict both direct and indirect economic damage on the United States and the wider Western world. 

Direct economic goals

• Create financial market chaos: The attacks immediately caused stock markets to plummet and triggered major disruptions in the financial services sector, which was heavily concentrated in the towers.

• Inflict heavy financial losses: The strike inflicted massive costs from property damage, cleanup, and business interruption. It also severely impacted specific industries like insurance and air travel. Following the attacks, air travel declined substantially, and airlines went bankrupt.

• Drain economic resources: By provoking a major military and security response, Al-Qaeda intended to draw the U.S. into a prolonged and costly conflict that would strain its economy. 

Indirect Economic Goals of Al-Qaida:

• Indirect economic goals

  • Undermine consumer confidence: The attack was designed to promote widespread fear, which Al-Qaeda hoped would shake public confidence and lead to a reduction in consumer spending.

  • Increase security costs: The attacks necessitated a massive increase in spending on security and intelligence, diverting resources away from more productive economic activities.

  • Cause global disruption: The economic shockwaves from 9/11 spread globally, slowing world economic growth and increasing costs for international commerce. 

Open Ended

List one direct financial goal of Al-Qaeda?

Open Ended

List one indirect financial goal of Al Qaeda?

Economic events:

​The September 11th attacks initially caused severe economic disruption, including plunging stock markets and a halt in travel, but the U.S. economy showed a remarkable recovery by year-end, partly due to proactive Federal Reserve actions, government stimulus for the airline industry, and the underlying health of the Economy.

​https://finance.yahoo.com/news/25-ways-9-11-affected-190100524.html

Open Ended

What would you have done if you were the Secretary of the Treasury or the Chairman of the Federal Reserve after this tragedy to alleviate the fears of U.S. citizens?

Multiple Choice

What are the Twin Towers?

• The center of Washington D.C.

• Headquarters of the U.S Department of Defense

• Headquarters of power and influence

• The center of the World Trade Center

Timeline:

Timeline:

President Bush's Reaction

Multiple Choice

What was the President doing when he learned of the attacks?

• Meeting with his Vice President.

• Reading to a group of second graders.

• Meeting with the military.

• Flying to Camp David.

Imagine being a Pentagon employee in 2001:

​In 2001, a typical day for a Pentagon worker mirrored that of many large office complexes, albeit with a uniquely military-civic atmosphere and heightened security. It involved a lengthy commute, an office-based workday, and standard-issue workplace rituals, all set against the backdrop of an ongoing, multi-year building renovation. 

Commute and arrival

• A long journey: Many of the 23,000 employees had lengthy commutes into Arlington, Virginia. Retired Col. Marilyn Wills, for example, lived 16 miles away and was on the road before sunrise.

• Beautiful mornings: The morning of September 11, 2001, was described by multiple employees as a beautiful day with clear, low-humidity skies.

• Arrival routine: Employees would stream into the massive building, park in the huge lot, and then walk through the corridors to their offices. As one employee recalled, they "walked in the building like it was just any other normal day". 

American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon at 9:37 AM on September 11, 2001, after being hijacked and flown by lead hijacker Hani Hanjour. The Boeing 757 hit the E Ring, causing an explosion and a large fire that led to the collapse of a section of the building. There were 184 fatalities, including all 64 people on the plane and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the Pentagon.  

Flight 77 and the Pentagon Attack:

• 08:20 AM:

  American Airlines Flight 77 departs from Washington Dulles International Airport. 

• 09:37 AM:

  Hijackers aboard Flight 77 crash the plane into the western facade of the Pentagon. 

• 10:15 AM:

  A section of the Pentagon's outer ring, above where the plane hit, collapses due to the damage and resulting fire. 

Multiple Choice

Where did the third flight crash?

• Pentagon
• Twin towers
• A field in Pennsylvania
• The ocean

Flight 93?

Multiple Choice

Where did the fourth flight crash?

• Pentagon
• Twin towers
• A field in Pennsylvania
• The ocean

Open Ended

How would you have reacted if you were in the World Trade Center, a bystander on the street, on one of the planes, or at the Pentagon to the events unfolding before your eyes?

Open Ended

How would you have reacted if you were the President of the United States?

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6171390

9/11 Terrorist Attacks

What Happened:

• Took place on September 11, 2001

• Members of Al-Qaeda hijacked 4 commercial airplanes

• 2 planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in NY

• 1 plane was flown into the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

• 1 plane (flight 93) crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control

​

​Casualties

​* World Trade Center = 2,753 civilians , 343 firefighters, 60 police officers
* Pentagon = 184 people were killed
* Flight 93 = 40 passengers and crew

​

​Why was the U.S. attacked ??
The U.S. maintained military bases in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War. Osama bin Laden & other extremists considered U.S. presence in the Middle East a violation of Muslim lands

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the terrorist group that carried out the attacks?

• Taliban

• Boko Haram

• al-Qaeda

• Nazis

​The primary reason for the 9/11 attacks was al-Qaeda's multifaceted opposition to U.S. foreign policy in the Muslim world, including U.S. support for Israel and pro-American governments, its military presence in Saudi Arabia, sanctions against Iraq, and its interference in conflicts involving Muslims.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden declared this opposition in a fatwa and later detailed his motivations in a "Letter to the American People," framing the attacks as a response to American "atrocities" against Muslims.
Key Motives Explained U.S. Support for Israel: Bin Laden cited continued U.S. support for Israel and its occupation of Lebanon as a major grievance. U.S. Military Presence in Saudi Arabia: The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, the location of Islam's holiest sites, was a significant point of contention. Sanctions Against Iraq: Al-Qaeda condemned the sanctions imposed on Iraq following the first Gulf War, which they viewed as harmful to the Iraqi people.

A fatwa is a non-binding legal ruling or opinion issued by a qualified Islamic scholar (a mufti) in response to a question about Islamic law. These rulings can cover a wide range of topics, from personal conduct and inheritance to lifestyle and religious disputes, providing guidance to individuals, judges, or even governments.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the primary motive behind al-Qaeda’s attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001?

• increase trade relations between the U.S. and the Middle East

• assist the U.S. in stabilizing the oil market in the Persian Gulf

• negotiate peace treaties between Western nations and Middle Eastern governments

• protest U.S. policies and military presence in Middle Eastern - Muslim countries

Global War on Terror:

• U.S. military interventions in Afghanistan (2001)

  • U.S. & N.A.T.O. invade Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban that provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda leaders

• U.S. military interventions in Iraq (2003)

  • U.S. invaded Iraq to overthrow the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein who was thought to have Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's)

​What Did It Do:

• U.S. response to 9/11

• Aimed to dismantle

  terrorist organization & preventing future attacks

​Goal:

​

​Impact

​* Reshaped U.S. foreign policy by emphasizing proactive military action & counterterrorism efforts

* criticism towards the Bush Administration for the high human & financial costs as well as destabilization in the Middle East

• debate over the balance between security & civil liberties

• many felt it was undermined constitutional rights & allowed government overreach

Criticisms:

• Explained the Federal Government's surveillance and law enforcement power to combat terrorism

• Allowed phone calls, emails, financial records, & other forms of communication to be monitored

What Was It ?

U.S.A. Patriot Act

Multiple Choice

What was one criticism of the USA PATRIOT Act, which was passed following the 9/11 attacks?

• it restricted the U.S. government's ability to investigate potential terrorist threats

• it expanded government surveillance in ways some believed violated civil liberties

• it prevented the government from cooperating with international intelligence agencies

• it focused on reducing funding for first responders and law enforcement

Social and political implication:

The social and political implications of 9/11 include the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, passage of the USA Patriot Act, significant increases in defense and counterterrorism spending, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, an increase in anti-Arab/anti-Islamic sentiment, and a heightened public focus on national security that reshaped policies on privacy and civil liberties. These changes have profoundly altered American foreign policy, government structure, and daily life, leading to lasting societal shifts in security consciousness, international relations, and technological integration

Was Congress justified in passing the Patriot Act?

• Expanded surveillance and access to records: It increased law enforcement's authority to access private records, including those from libraries, medical facilities, and schools, without needing probable cause. A key tool for this is the use of National Security Letters (NSLs), which are administrative subpoenas that do not require judicial oversight.

• "Sneak-and-peek" search warrants: The act authorized "delayed notification" search warrants, which allowed law enforcement to search a property without the owner's knowledge or consent for a "reasonable period" of time.

• "Roving" wiretaps: It allowed federal agents to obtain wiretap orders on a specific individual rather than on a specific phone line or communication device. This made it easier to track suspects who frequently switched phones.

• Increased information sharing: It removed barriers that previously prevented information sharing between law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The goal was to help agencies "connect the dots" to prevent terrorist plots.

• Revised definitions and penalties: The act expanded the legal definition of "domestic terrorism" and increased the penalties for terrorism-related crimes.

• Tackled financial terrorism: It strengthened measures to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism by imposing stricter requirements on financial institutions.

• Expanded the reach of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): It altered FISA to allow surveillance for foreign intelligence gathering to be a "significant purpose," rather than the "primary purpose" of an investigation. This allowed foreign intelligence tools to be used in domestic criminal cases. 

​Provisions of the Patriot Act:

​Restricted rights and freedoms The Patriot Act has been heavily criticized for eroding civil liberties and threatening constitutional rights, including:

Privacy rights: The expansion of government surveillance, including the access to personal records and electronic communications without probable cause, raised concerns about Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

First Amendment rights: Provisions like the "gag orders" that accompany National Security Letters prevented recipients from telling anyone about the government's request for their records. Critics argued this suppressed free speech. The American Library Association, for instance, specifically voiced concerns over the privacy of library users.

Due process for non-citizens: The act gave the Attorney General the power to indefinitely detain non-citizens based on suspicion of endangering national security, without charge or access to legal counsel. Broadening of "domestic terrorism": Critics feared the expanded definition of domestic terrorism could be used to target and prosecute peaceful political activists and protest groups.

Lack of judicial oversight: Some provisions, particularly those concerning NSLs, were criticized for giving law enforcement expanded powers with minimal judicial supervision.

Multiple Choice

About how many people lost their lives on 9/11?

• About 8,000
• About 3,000
• About 1,000

• About 500 

Multiple Choice

What buildings were destroyed or damaged during the 9/11 terrorists attacks?

• Willis Tower, Trump Tower, and the Twin Towers

• The Empire State Building and the Twin Towers

• The World Trade Center (referred to as the Twin Towers) and The Pentagon

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the new cabinet department created in response to the events of 9/11?

• Department of Homeland Security

• Department of Homeland Safety

• Department of Security

• Department of Safety

Multiple Choice

Why did Al Qaeda choose the targets they did on 9/11

• They were symbols of American Economic, Government, and Military power

• To spread fear and chaos amongst other Western European Countries

• To make a political statement about the attacks on Muslims in Georgia

• To demonstrate their strength

Multiple Choice

What is the primary aim of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001?

• To increase funding for military contracts

• To prevent acts of terrorism against the United States

• To promote the growth of small businesses

• To limit the amount of foreign investments in the United States

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the USA Patriot Act?

• To imprison American citizens without due process rights

• To gave the President war powers similar to the War Powers Act

• To conduct surveillance without warrants to prevent terrorism

• The power to oversee military courts