There are very few events in human history that are so impactful that nearly everyone alive during them remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news. The 9/11 attacks were one of those events.
Twenty-three years ago, on the clear, sunny day of September 11, 2001, the United States of America was attacked. Hijackers affiliated with Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden, boarded four planes with the intent of attacking the financial, military, and political hubs of the country. The first two were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing them to collapse hours later. A third plane hit the western wall of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., while a fourth plane which was later speculated to have been intended for either the Capitol or the White House crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was later discovered that the passengers had attempted to take control of that latter plane, forcing the hijackers to fly the plane into the ground. Ultimately, the attacks killed 2,996 people, injured thousands more, and left many with lasting health defects.
United Airlines Flight 175 hits the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
The legacy of the 9/11 attacks continues to reverberate to this day. Three days after the attack, the U.S. launched its Global War on Terror, which is the most recent conflict in modern history to involve multiple wars. The U.S. toppled the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan which had harbored Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, and two years after ousted Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. The U.S. later expanded operations to fight against all Islamic extremists, deploying troops to Africa and other parts of the Middle East. The cost and the instability created by these wars continue to generate much controversy to this day. The war in Afghanistan itself became America’s longest war, lasting nearly twenty years from 2001 to 2021. The end of the war was a mixed bag, however, as the Taliban took control of the country whilst U.S. troops were in the middle of their withdrawal.
As the U.S. launched its global campaign against terrorism, at home the government took action to prevent acts of terrorism from ever happening again on U.S. soil. The Department of Homeland Security was established to prevent further attacks. Congress passed the Patriot Act, authorizing a government surveillance program that many criticized later for infringing on civil liberties. The Transportation Security Administration was formed, leading to the toughening of airport security measures. Such security policies were not only unique to the United States but spread around the world as well. The response to the 9/11 attacks created an international debate on the balance between security and civil liberties that continues to this day.
An unfortunate consequence of the 9/11 attacks was the rise of Islamophobia particularly in Western countries. Muslim communities all around the world became subjected to fear, hate, and suspicion. Policies enacted in the wake of 9/11 arguably led to an increase in hate crimes and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Such rhetoric and hate crimes continue to this day.
Ultimately, the most important legacy that 9/11 ushered in was a legacy of resilience and unity. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the world came together and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Americans in particular were united in a way that would not be seen in a long time. The unity on display following the attacks serves as a stark contrast to the political polarization that has emerged in recent years.
Today, 9/11 remains in the national consciousness. Solemn and poignant tributes to the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 exist in the reflecting pools built at the old site of the World Trade Center and the monuments erected elsewhere. They serve as reminders of an attack that occurred at the dawn of a new millennium, changing the world and the course of human events forever.
Emil Ordonez, a rising college freshman, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Polinsights. He has been deeply passionate about politics and history since learning every U.S. President at the age of five. He was compelled to start this blog after meeting many people who were misinformed or had become apathetic about how society worked. He hopes to provide factual knowledge and insights that will encourage people, especially the young, to get more engaged in their respective communities. In his free time, he edits for Wikipedia and makes maps for elections. He aspires to work in Congress or even the White House in the future.
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