Acts of Terrorism and Social Change in the United States...

On 10 September, 2001 the citizens of the United States went about their day-to-day activities without any thoughts of a terrorist attack occurring. Americans who were lulled into this mindset by the false pretenses of security and the history that America has never had a multifaceted terroristic attack occur on her soil. However, on the morning of September 11, 2001 this attitude would be ceaselessly changed and change the life of all Americans. The United States has become known as the melting pot of culture due to the diversity of citizens; consequently, this has also led terroristic events committed by individuals and factions to share their ideologies and attempt to bring about social change. This social change may influence an†¦show more content†¦In the past 20 years the United States along with the world have entered a period referred to as â€Å"New Terrorism† (Kurtulus, 2011). This new type of terrorism is generally indiscriminate, networked, based off religious ideologies, and committed by individuals and factions with little to no organizational structure (Kurtulus, 2011). The problem with the individuals who commit this new type of terrorism is that they are generally indiscriminate and do not necessarily have a selected target. The victims of these attacks are generally thrown into disarray with little to no explanation on why they occurred. International terrorism or terrorism that occurs outside the United States, but in turn affects the U.S. also has a dynamic effect on the occurrence of social change. The Heritage Foundation’s 2011 study also found an occurrence of 380 international terroristic attacks in between 2001-2009 (Muhlhausen McNeil, 2011). The 2011 study also showed that the general targets of international attacks were aimed toward business and diplomatic offices (Muhlhausen McNeil, 2011). Some of these international attacks have led to military actions known as War on Terror and encompassing Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. The events of September 11, 2001 sparked a wave of social change that will forever have an impact on America and her citizens. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 withShow MoreRelatedTerrorism Has Been Used For Centuries As A Weapon Of Change1074 Words   |  5 PagesTerrorism has been used for centuries as a weapon of change. Terrorism used to force change even altered the English language, the creation of the word assassin because of the Hashhashin’s in the 11th century and the Roman’s use of decimation changing the meaning from killing one in ten to massacring all involved. Much of early terrorism was based on nationalist or ethnic groups, which had exhausted all other options while reaching for political freedom and therefore resorted to violence. The mostRead MoreTerrorism, Cia, And South America1062 Words   |  5 PagesTerrorism, CIA, and South America Terrorism. This word has caused more change in the 21st century than any other thought, policy, or idea. This change can not only be seen in the political realm, but in the academic realm as well. Since the attacks on September 11, the study and research of terrorism has grown exponentially. One area of research that is gaining popularity is whether or not the United States itself has participated in acts of terrorism as defined by the CIA. The largest of theseRead MoreThe Effects Of Terrorism On Terrorism And Terrorism944 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Terrorism â€Å"The history of terrorism is a history of well-known and historically significant individuals, entities, and incidents associated, whether rightly or wrongly, with terrorism,† (History of Terrorism). The history of terrorism is a long bloody road. One of the bloodiest of acts of terrorism in the early years, was the reign of terror. In which, the Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre, executed 40,000 people. Newspapers coined the word â€Å"Terrorism† as a way of describing RobespierreRead MoreNuclear Weapons Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational relations. As seen in the class lecture slides, states often embark on nuclear weapons programs to counterbalance the power of other states. This is particularly true for states such as China and Iran, who are trying to balance the power of the United States. States such as China, Russia, and the United States are all powerful international influences. This is partially due to the fact that they are a part of the United Nations Security Council and own nuclear weapons. If they did notRead MoreNuclear Weapons Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational relations. As seen in the class lecture slides, states often embark on nuclear weapons programs to counterbalance the power of other states. This is particularly true for states such as China and Iran, who are trying to balance the power of the United States. States such as China, Russia, and the United States are all powerful international influences. This is partially due to the fact that they are a part of the United Nations Security Council and own nuclear weapons. If they did notRead MoreTerrorism Is A Global Issue1462 Words   |  6 PagesTerrorism is a global issue that has been a problem for many for centuries. Many agree that there is not just one clear definition of the word. The Dictionary.com definition of terrorism is, â€Å"The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.† Thi s definition is incomplete. It doesn’t tell you that the act of terrorism is wrong or does it describe who can be affected by it. The FBI’s definition seems to be a better description. They define it as, â€Å"TerrorismRead MoreDomestic Terrorism Is America s Greatest Threat : Mass Shootings And Hate Crimes1389 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic Terrorism is America s Greatest Threat: Mass Shootings and Hate Crimes I. Introduction The United States has been in a national state of emergency fighting a war on terrorism since September 11, 2001. The intelligence communities have pursued and tracked down terrorist suspects who pose a direct threat to this country, yet one of the greatest threat to this country is the astronomical number of mass shootings and hate crimes that have occurred in this country post 9/11. The UnitedRead MoreHow The United States Should Combat Such A Horrific Form Of Warfare And Political Change1398 Words   |  6 Pages Much has been made of terrorism and political crime lately. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon most have asked questions such as: How could this happen? Why would someone do this to so many innocent people? And possibly even more importantly, how do we prevent this from happening again? The attacks on that tragic day weren’t the first in our country though they were the most devastating to date. They were devastating in accordance with casualtiesRead More The True Meaning of Terrorism Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesThe True Meaning of Terrorism Think of the word terrorism. What is the first thing that comes to mind? One might think of kidnapping, assassination, bombing, or even genocide and guerrilla warfare. Because it is such a broad and complex issue, an all-encompassing definition is hard to formulate. The United States Department of Defence defines terrorism as†¦ The calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societiesRead MoreThe Psychology of Terrorism761 Words   |  3 Pages Terrorism Psychology The assignment being completed within this report asks the author of this paper to answer several questions. The first relates to the psychological attributes of terrorists. The second question asks for historical and cultural antecedents to September 11th. The third and final one asks for mental illness and its inconclusive link with terrorism. Reasons for the inconclusiveness as well as reasons people become terrorists. Psychological Profile of a Terrorist The primary