Events that Led up to the Creation of the Patriot Act

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The Patriot Act was created in the year of 2001, the same year that the tragic day, 9.11, occurred. On September 11th, 2001, 19 terrorists working for Al-Qaeda hijacked four planes, and caused this day to be forever remembered in the history of the United States. At 8:46 AM on September 11th, the first hijacked plane (American Airlines Flight 11) crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Specifically, it crashed into the 93-99th floors, trapping everyone on the floors above. Many people had doubts about this being a terrorist attack; they thought that it was just an accident. However, all of those doubts were removed when the second hijacked plane (United Airlines Flight 175) crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. At this point, everyone knew that America was under attack. The third hijacked plane (Flight 77) crashed into the Pentagon at Arlington, Virginia, killing everyone on board and 125 people on land. The last plane (United Flight 93) crashed into an empty field around 80 miles south-east of Pittsburg. Over 2,891 people were killed in total, and many more were injured. (Walsh) Following the terrorist attacks, Congress created the Patriot Act. The act allowed law enforcement's around the country greater ability to track terrorism or possible terrorists. It expanded the governments ability to investigate and punish terrorists. This act was accepted quickly by the House of Representatives, and was passed almost unanimously in the Senate. President George W. Bush signed this act into being on October 6th, 2001. This act allows the police to have surveillance over any form of communication that could be used by a terrorist. Things that were private privileges, such as emails, the internet, and, ... ... middle of paper ... ...Cases: Schenck v. United States (ABA Division for Public Education)." Key Supreme Court Cases: Schenck v. United States (ABA Division for Public Education). N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. McBride, Alex. "Schenck v. U.S. (1919)." PBS. PBS, Dec. 2006. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. "Remarks at the Signing of the Patriot Act." American History Online, Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=AHI6485&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 6, 2014). "Sixth Amendment." LII / Legal Information Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. Walsh, Julie. "September 11 Terrorist Attacks." In Campell, Ballard C., Ph.D., Gen. Ed. Disasters, Accidents, and Crises in American History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=DACH0197&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 6, 2014).

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