The 21st Century Begins
2001 - Present
Chapter 32
Terrorism in the United States
What is terrorism?

Terrorism

Planned violence by individuals or
groups against civilians for political
reasons.


What might be a political reason?
What are some examples of terrorism?
Goal of Terrorism:

Frighten people and leaders to
achieve a goal.

Terrorists have demands and goals they wish to
achieve through committing terrorist acts.
Terrorists

There are many different types of terrorists and
they are typically defined according to their
goals.

National Terrorist – wants to change the
government or create their own nation.

Religious Terrorist – wants to force people to
follow their religious beliefs.

Environmental Terrorists – want to bring
attention to the destruction of the environment.
A brand new housing development is burned.
This is an example of which type of terrorism?
A Palestinian Terrorist wants the creation of
his/her own country.
What type of terrorist is this?
Osama bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda (the
group responsible for the attacks of 9-11),
wants to restore original (fundamental)
Islamic traditions and customs.
What type of terrorism is this?
President George W. Bush

Began as President in 2001

What did he do before becoming President?


Governor of Texas
What political party did George Bush belong to?

Republican Party
September 11, 2001
“9-11” or “nine-eleven”

Four planes hijacked by Al-Qaeda Terrorists
 Washington D.C. – The Pentagon
 New York City – The World Trade Center
 Shanksville, PA – Flight 93 Crash site.


Al-Qaeda


Intended target for Flight 93 unknown – most likely the
White House or the Capitol Building.
A religious terrorist group behind the attacks of
9-11.
Hijack – to steal or occupy a vehicle by force
Attacks on New York City (9-11)
Attacks on New York City
9-11-01
Attack on the Pentagon
Washington, D.C.
(9-11)
Aerial view of the Pentagon
Reconstruction following 9-11
Flight 93
Shanksville, PA
Flight path (left)
Crash site (right)
Osama bin Laden

Leader of Al-Qaeda
Death Toll of “9-11”

World Trade Center (New York City)


Pentagon (Washington, D.C.


2,800 people died
189 people died
Flight 93 (Shanksville, PA)

40 people died
Patriotism

Patriotism – Pride in
one’s country
“The War on Terrorism”

Goal: To protect the nation from future
terrorist attacks.

In order to protect the U.S. from
terrorism, George W. Bush created:


The Department of Homeland Security
The Patriot Act
The Patriot Act

What did it do?
Gave the U.S. new powers to fight terrorism.

How did it do it?


Allowed the government to:



Get court approval to secretly search the homes,
businesses, and personal property without showing a
search warrant.
What is a search warrant?
What concerns might this raise for the privacy of nonterrorists?
Full Name: Uniting and Strengthening America by “Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism” Act of 2001 = “PATRIOT”
The Department of Homeland Security

What does it do?



Helps Federal
Agencies work
together
Extended more
federal control
over air and sea
ports of the
United States.
What is an example of a Federal
Agency?
Reasons Behind “9-11”

Purpose behind the targets:


Served as symbols of U.S. political, military, and
economic power.
What did the terrorists want?




1) Wanted the U.S. to remove troops from the
Middle East
2) Wanted the U.S. to stop supporting Israel
3) Wanted to stop the U.S. influence on the
traditional ways of life in the Middle East.
4) Wanted to prove that the U.S. was
vulnerable.
Respond to the following
questions in full sentences.

1) What is (define) Terrorism?

2) What terrorism occurred on “9-11?”

3) Why was the U.S. a target of terrorism on “911?”

4) What is the purpose of the Patriot Act?

5) What is the purpose of the Department of
Homeland Security?
Critical Thinking

Considering Osama bin Laden’s goals,
and the goals of George W. Bush in the
“War on Terror,” who has been more
successful in achieving their goals?
Be sure to justify your opinion.
The War on Terror Begins
The War on Terror

TWO main theatres for this war:

Afghanistan

Capital:


KABUL
Iraq

Capital:

BAGHDAD
Afghanistan
Iraq
The Taliban

Controlled the government of Afghanistan

The Taliban allowed Osama bin Laden and
Al Qaeda to train in Afghanistan

Following 9-11, the Taliban REFUSED to turn
over Osama bin Laden and other
terrorists.

Taliban Rules:



Women could not go to school or work outside of the home
Television was banned.
Harsh punishments were given to anyone who disobeyed the rules.
The War on Terrorism Begins

Afghanistan

October 7, 2001


United States and Great Britain begin bombing
Afghanistan.
Goal:


Get rid of the Taliban
Destroy Al-Qaeda hangouts

How is this goal consistent with the goals of President
Bush following 9-11?
The Afghanistan War

Two Goals Achieved:

Al Qaeda training camps were destroyed.
Taliban were removed from power.

Setback:



Al-Qaeda still is active and operating.
Osama bin Laden was not captured.
Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons that are able to cause death on
a large scale.

What might be some examples?
Saddam Hussein


Dictator of Iraq
Viewed by the U.S. as a threat to our security.

Why?


It was believed by the U.S. that Hussein had
weapons of mass destruction
It was believed that Hussein might give these
weapons to terrorists.
Iraq:

A brief look back.
1991 – Persian Gulf War

Hussein had invaded neighboring Kuwait.

The U.S. and United Nations freed Kuwait from Iraq
and discovered that Iraq MAY have weapons of mass
destruction.

After Iraq was defeated the United Nations (UN) told
Iraq they were not allowed to have weapons of mass
destruction.
The Iraq War

April 15, 2003:


May 2003:


Government of Saddam Hussein fell.
President Bush declared victory.
Present Day:

U.S. troops remain in Iraq to maintain peace and
promote the new democratic government.
Iraq – March 19, 2003

Believing that Iraq had weapons of mass
destruction:

Great Britain & the United States invaded
Iraq.
Respond to the following
questions in full sentences:

1) Why did the war on terror begin in Afghanistan?

2) What was the Taliban?

3) What freedoms did the Taliban deny its people?

4) What was it believed that Saddam Hussein was hiding?

5) What did President Bush declare in May 2003?