The events that took place on September 11th, 2001 have forever changed the United States. On that day it was clear that our borders were not secure. Our nation’s security was questioned, and our national security plan, as a result, had to change. President Bush did what he felt was needed at the time, laying out the foundation for a surveillance apparatus, involving the Patriot Act and the National Security Agency. This United States’ surveillance apparatus, though, draws a thin line between privacy and security. In doing so it forces us to trade our liberty for security, causing both to be lost, and thus, moves us towards losing our democracy. Prior to the events of 9/11 our national security plan was not heavily touched upon. It remained more or less stable since 1947 when President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. During President Bush’s time in office prior to 9/11 the only steps he took to change any aspect were the ones toward foreign policy. “During his first nine months in office, Bush made clear his intentions to move the country away from-or entirely out of-a number …show more content…
Up until this point, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, applied to surveillance for domestic threats (Surveillance). However, this act now “stipulated that government officials have the authority to ‘intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism, computer fraud, abuse offenses’” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498). For the first time the “CIA could spy on American citizens within the U.S. borders” (Ambrose and Brinkley, 498), and for the first time, Americans were forced to trade their liberty for some sense of
American History has a lot of famous historical events. One of them would be the 9/11; which is a very memorable attack that happened years back. It is a very significant event in American history because it changed peoples point of view. Many people saved, lost, and risked their lives to save others. To this day the memorial for every person still stands and is remembered for every year and day.
The Patriot Act was hastily passed just a month later October and it severely limited the privacy of Americans and gave unprecedented power to the government and private agencies to track innocent Americans, turning regular citizens into suspects.5 In addition, the great technological evolution and emerged of social media that occurred round the same time, and shortly thereafter, created the perfect storm for the emergence of the largely unregulated surveillance society that we live in today.6 The result is digitization of people’s personal and professional lives so that every single digital trace that people leave can be identified, stored, and aggregated to constitute a composite sketch of ourselves and its only getting worse. In 2008, passed the FISA Amendments Act, which expands the government’s authority to monitor Americans’ international communications, in addition to domestic communications.7 In short, after 9/11 the U.S is left with a national surveillance state, in which “the proliferation of government technology and bureaucracies that are able to acquire vast and detailed amounts of digital information about individuals with minimal or no judicial supervision and often in complete secrecy,” giving the government and corporations with access to the data that the government compiles the ability to single
Many people, including myself,would consider the terrorist attack of 9/11 as one of the most horrific events in US history. This event had changed and affected not just America but the entire world. .
When “9/11” occurred, it changed American lives and shaped how we live and know life as it is today. Thing would never be the same in points of access, such as airports, military bases, local and even schools. As the years went on, the younger generation understood and accepted what was happening. Just a year before 9/11, you could access military bases with only a driver's license, and walk up with your loved ones to the point they boarded the actual airplane. Are these new strict measurements that we’ve grown so accustomed to necessary? Many will say no, and even call it overkill, but it may just be what we’ve needed all along, instead of relying on a false sense of security.
September 11, 2001 was a day of a chain of events which changed the United States forever. Multiple attacks were placed on America, the first attack being the World Trade Center, (Twin Towers), in New York. The second attack was on the Pentagon. The third and final attack on September 11 was an attempt hit on what's said to be the White House in Washington DC; however, men and women were able to take some control of the hijacked plane and crashed in a small country field.
The shocking tragedy on September 11, 2001 altered the course of American national security. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, homeland security was rarely debated as a hot topic, even within the small circle of policy elites (Kamarck, 2013, p. 34). The only prior homeland attack on America was Pearl Harbor and this was not on U.S. mainland. Many Americans were shocked that such a tragedy could occur on American soil and they are still shocked to this day. People are still recovering from this tragic event. The government knew that the country’s enemies still posed an enormous threat to the nation’s security. In response to the events that took place on 9/11, the United States Congress passed the USA/Patriot Act, which intensified the surveillance powers held by the federal government through the National Security Agency (NSA) and other federal agencies. This act increased national airport security procedures, metro security in most major U.S. cities, and extended the government’s capacity to spy on citizens.
In the wake of September 11th, the country was in turmoil. Fear and confusion were rampant; direction was required. President George Bush, in a famous address, acknowledged the severity of the attacks, and called for a newly invigorated sense of nationalism. His plan for preventing future attacks called for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and expanded powers to intelligence agencies (Bush). During this time, one of the most provocative bills was allowed to pass, under the guise of a terrorist seeking bill. The Patriot Act was indeed effective in increasing the power allotted to surveillance agencies, but many feel at too high of a cost. Many have asked the question "is
“September 11 is one of our worst days, but it brought out the best in us. It unified us as a country and showed our charitable instincts and reminded us of what we stood for and stand for.” (Senator Lamar Alexander). September 11, 2001 was the day that changed America. Fifteen years later the U.S still remember and mourn the loss of those who died from the attacks.
On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Islamic extremists carried out the deadliest terrorist attack ever to happen on U.S. soil. Not only did almost 3,000 U.S. citizens die, but fundamental American values were put to the test. In response to this tragedy, the country came together, and President George Bush, also shocked and embittered by this calamity, funneled the resulting patriotism to launch his “War on Terror”. The primary weapon of this war was the 2001 U.S.A Patriot Act (“Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism”). A usually precarious balance the government faced between national security and individual rights was tipped entirely towards national security in the wake of 9/11 and the 2001 Patriot Act was signed into law almost unopposed.
How well could you re-call where you were, what you were doing or what happened on September 11, 2001? I know I can re-call every emotional, fearful and chaotic second of that day, today, 15 years later. Because of the events that took place on that day, “the day that changed America forever” we are still dealing with these unsolved serious issues. Terrorists struck America in the heart of New York, Pennsylvania, The White House, The Pentagon and World Trade Centers’ killing millions of innocent people, land marking “the day that changed America forever.” Aside from the research I have done on this historic event we have all watched it unfold from the starting of day one. The issues on Terrorism and the change it put not only on America,
America has developed through the different factors of tragedies that the nation went through, everything has shaped America into a stronger country. The September 11 attack was a major tragedy to the United States, also the most known event where airplanes hijackers crashed into North and South Tower of the Word Trade Center along with the Pentagon. (Schwartz, 11/29/16) The September 11 terrorist attack changed America more because the horrific event led to large modifications of laws that are still influenced today, in which have helped to increase the surveillance and protection of the United States’ population.
September 11, 2001 is a day that no American will ever forget. That day has left a mark on each an everyone of us. That day is commonly known as ‘9/11’ and was the longest day in New York City. Everyone needs to know the dangers of each day, no matter if you see if coming or not. No one on that day know what life changing experience they would go through. Shortly after arriving to work in September 11, 2001, the attacks took place. Flights 11, 77, 93, and 175 were hijacked early in the morning and the crashed occurred shortly after. Not only were the Twin Towers hit that day, but the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania were hit. There are many survivors who shared their incredible stories. They addressed what was going throughout their minds
It’s true. Most of us have not only heard this said, but we have said it ourselves. After 9/11, everything changed. How so, you ask? Many of our attitudes towards people of different ethnic backgrounds and religions have changed. Many of us have changed where we stand on the issue of immigration. We, as a country, as Americans, have changed in ways we never thought possible. Certain questions I need to address in analyzing this issue are: Do we have a greater sense of unity as Americans now or not? Does this sense cross racial, ethnic, and gender boundaries? Also, I will analyze if being afraid has made us xenophobic (having a fear of anyone of foreign origin).
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 impacted the American people without many of them realizing it. The act called for increased monitoring of computer networks, phone lines, and online history inside the United States and allowed the government to deport suspects (ACLU). What was created by the act has snaked its way into all aspects of our lives, creating a sense of order and restricting some freedom. However, some say that this imposition into our daily lives limits our freedoms and actions allowed us by the Constitution. Many interest groups voice strong resentment for the act while others try to demonstrate the strengths and triumphs of the Homeland Security Act. This paper will show the differing viewpoints of those that feel that the
The attacks on American soil that solemn day of September 11, 2001, ignited a quarrel that the grade of singular privacy, need not be given away in the hunt of grander security. The security measures in place were planned to protect our democracy and its liberties yet, they are merely eroding the very existence with the start of a socialistic paradigm. Benjamin Franklin (1759), warned more than two centuries ago: “they that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Implementing security measures comes at a cost both economically and socially. Government bureaucrats can and will utilize information for personal political objectives. The Supreme Court is the final arbitrator