On the morning of September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. On that day, 19 terrorists from the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes in the United State
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-16
Introduction
On the morning of September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. On that day, 19 terrorists from the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes in the United States. They crashed two of them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and a third into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. military, in Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers. The 9/11 attacks were the deadliest terrorist attack in human history, killing nearly 3,000 people. In response, the United States, under President George W. Bush, declared a global "War on Terror," a conflict that would dominate international politics, reshape societies, and define the 21st century.
Learning objectives
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Describe the events of September 11, 2001.
- Identify al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, as the perpetrators of the attacks.
- Define the "War on Terror" and its main objectives.
- Explain the significance of the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Analyse the major consequences of the War on Terror, including its impact on civil liberties and global security.
The Attacks of September 11th
The attacks were meticulously planned and executed to cause maximum casualties and symbolic damage. The targets—the World Trade Center (a symbol of American economic power) and the Pentagon (a symbol of American military power)—were chosen deliberately. The collapse of the Twin Towers, broadcast live on television screens around the world, created images of devastation that were seared into the collective memory of a generation. The sense of shock, grief, and vulnerability was immense. For the first time since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the continental United States had suffered a major attack from a foreign enemy. …