Essay On How 9/11 Changed America

September 11, 2001 was the day that changed the United States in many ways. On that

day, Islamic extremist carried out acts of terrorism when they hijacked four U.S. airplanes

headed for different destinations. Two of the hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers of

the World Trade Center in New York City and another was used in a similar attack on the

Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The passengers on the last plane fought back against the terrorists,

and the plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania before it could hit its intended target which

was White House. These attacks are the first ever directed toward U.S. civilian population.

One major change that was caused by the September 11th attacks was the introduction to

the

Patriot Act passed on October 26, 2001. The Patriot Act gave the United States power to

punish terrorist acts in America and around the world. In the war to fight terrorism, there was

nothing off limits to U.S. government agencies, like Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and

these agencies were able to obtain any documents they felt necessary to combat any suspected

terrorism.

The Patriot Act expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate

financial transactions and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration

authorities in detaining and deporting anyone they thought to be a threat. Without this act,

enforcement and pursuit of terrorist acts may not have been as heightened.

The Sepetember 11th attacks also caused a frenzy with the financial markets as they took a

hit on this fateful day. The New York Stock Exchange closed immediately after the attack, and

nearly ¼ of their employees were victims of the attacks as their headquarters are housed near the

Twin Towers. Trading of the NASDAQ and trading of the United States bond market also

closed. As a result of the attacks, oil prices and gas prices increased. Travel and entertainment

stocks fell and online travel agencies were greatly affected because people were cautious about

traveling out of fear and not knowing what to expect.

In an effort to reassure U.S. citizens of their safety after the attacks, homeland spending

had to increase. “It merged 22 governmental agencies into one, including the Customs

Service,

the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency

Management Agency.” (September 11th Fast Facts) In March of 2002, The Homeland Security

Advisory System was introduced (September 11th Fast Facts). These agencies worked tirelessly

to make sure that order was restored and that the country’s citizens could resume their normal

lives.

The most immediate change as a result of the September 11th attacks is airport travel.

“Two months after the attacks, Congress federalized airport security by passing the Aviation and

Transportation Security Act, which created the Transportation Security Administration.”

(Villemez, Jason) This Act created stricter rules and guidelines for passengers who were going

through airport security, things such as passengers had to remove their shoes and liquids were

banned. The actual airplanes also went through changes. Fortified cockpit doors and first-class

cabin curtains were removed by some airlines. (Villemez, Jason)

With all of the regulations and changes being made to the country, it is difficult to forget

the most important change of the September 11th attacks - how the attacks affected the victims

and their families’ lives. Before the planes crashed into the World Tower Center, around 2,700

people were killed from the hijacking on American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight

175 (Villemez, Jason). Firefighters, policeman, office workers, and many others trying to help

were killed as a result of trying to save those were inside of the Twin Towers. On that day many

people were left sad and heartbroken over the loss of their loved ones.