Introduction

On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States became victim to a number of coordinated suicide attacks.  These attacks were planned by al-Qaeda, an Islamic group.  On the morning of September 11, four commercial airplanes were hijacked by members of al-Qaeda.  Two of the planes were intentionally crased into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others that were working in the buildings.  Both buildings ended up collapsing within two hours of the crashes.  A third plane was flown directly in the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia.  The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, after a number of passengers attempted to retake control of the plane.  This plane also was heading towards Washington, D.C., with either the Capital building or White House believed as its target.

2,974 victims and the 19 al-Qaeda hijackers died in these attacks.  Most of the casualties were civilians.

It has now been many years since these attacks.  The question remains.  How did these attacks affect America?