The Attacks of 9/11
To take control of a vehicle or aircraft by force
hijack
The name of the terrorist group that was responsible for carrying out the September 11, 2001attacks
al-Qaeda
The code name for the 2011 U.S. military operation that targeted Osama bin Laden
Operation Neptune Spear
This is the name given to the site in Lower Manhattan where the World Trade Center towers once stood
Ground Zero
Name the key issue that hindered U.S. intelligence agencies (such as the CIA and FBI) from preventing 9/11
Information "silos" and a lack of intelligence sharing between agencies
The number of commercial airplanes hijacked on the morning of September 11, 2001
Four
The leader and founder of al-Qaeda, responsible for planning the 9/11 attacks
Osama bin Laden
This elite military unit carried out the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound
Navy SEALs (SEAL Team Six)
Describe the way emergency responders (firefighters, police, paramedics) played a significant role on 9/11
evacuated thousands of civilians from burning buildings at great personal risk
Describe one of al-Qaeda's primary motivations for targeting the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
To attack symbols of American economic and military power
This is the name of the two targets were struck by hijacked planes in New York City
North Tower and South Tower of the World Trade Center
The year of the prior major attack on the World Trade Center before September 11, 2001
1993
The year Operation Neptune Spear took place, ending a decade-long search for Osama bin Laden
2011
Illnesses caused by exposure to toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero
Long-term health issues (Cancer, Asthma)
This type of historical material provides direct, first-person accounts, images, or audio from people who experienced an event
Primary source
The government building that the third hijacked plane impacted on September 11, 2001
The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
In 1998, al-Qaeda targeted U.S. embassies in this region
East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania)
This country was where Osama bin Laden was located and killed during Operation Neptune Spear
Pakistan
The name given to the international war in 2001 to remove the Taliban from power and dismantle al-Qaeda
The War in Afganistan
Describe how first-person perspectives and personal stories deepen our understanding of historical events like 9/11
Provide human context and emotional connection to historical data
The crash site of United Airlines Flight 93
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Al-Qaeda attacked this U.S. Navy vessel in Yemen in October 2000
USS Cole
This city in Pakistan is where the compound where bin Laden was hiding
Abbottabad
Name one way 9/11 became a major turning point in modern global history
permanently changed global aviation safety, foreign policy, and counterterrorism strategies worldwide
Describe the purpose of national memorials like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
To honor the victims, educate future generations, and preserve history