Background on the Event
South tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, NY.
On September 11, 2001 the terrorist group al Qaeda took control of four commercial airplanes. The drivers in two of these airplanes suicidally crashed into New York City's Twin Towers of the World Trade Center causing them to collapse. The third airplane was crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia. The fourth suicide bomber was unsuccessful as those aboard Flight 93 fought against the extremist member and were able to crash the plane into an empty field, sparing Washington, D.C. Thousands of citizens lost their lives in this fatal event and many sustained injuries.
Shortly after the devastation, investigations by the United States government into al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden began. The ultimate goal was to capture Osama Bin Laden and end al Qaeda--this plan was named Operation Enduring Freedom. In May of 2011, Osama Bin Laden was found and killed in his compund in Pakistan. The operation officially ended in 2014 but troops were not completely removed from Afghanistan until 2021.
The attacks from September 11, 2001 were reportedly the worst attacks occuring in the United States since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Unfortunately, these events from nearly 21 years ago still hold a profound and deep impact on Americans to this day. Not only has it affected American mindset and mental health, 9/11 also has affected political policies, spurred specified racism, and generally still affects individuals' daily lives.
“The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.” Naval History and Heritage Command. U.S. Navy, September 8, 2021. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/sept-11-attack.html#introduction.