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Sequencing 9/11 and the War on Terror

Finding a Sequence

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

Hijackers rammed jetliners into each of New York's World Trade Center towers yesterday, toppling both in a hellish storm of ash, glass, smoke and leaping victims, while a third jetliner crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia. There was no official count, but President Bush said thousands had perished, and in the immediate aftermath the calamity was already being ranked the worst and most audacious terror attack in American history. (NY Times 9/12).


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Worksheet

Sequencing 9/11 and the War on Terror

Finding a Sequence

Examine the documents in this activity. Put the corresponding document numbers in order using the list below. Write your conclusion response in the space provided.

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Hints for this Activity


  1. Built in 1973.
  2. Co-ordinated atttacks took place starting at 8:46am
  3. President Bush recieves the news at approx 9am
  4. President Bush speaks to the Nation at 8pm
  6. The US invaded Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban.
  7. The US invaded Iraq.
  8. The US military captured the leader of Iraq.


1

Activity Element

[Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM]

Page 1



2

Activity Element

Address to Nation on Terrorist Attacks

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3

Activity Element

Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

Page 1



4

Activity Element

Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan seen from West Street

Page 1



5

Activity Element

Portrait: Republic of Iraq Former President Saddam Hussein, following his capture by US Army (USA) Soldiers in Tikrit, Iraq

Page 1



6

Activity Element

President George W. Bush Signs Patriot Act

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7

Activity Element

911: President George W. Bush Receives Information Regarding Terrorist Attacks

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8

Activity Element

Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

Page 1



Conclusion

Sequencing 9/11 and the War on Terror

Finding a Sequence

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Often referred to as 9/11, the attacks resulted in extensive death and destruction, triggering major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defining the presidency of George W. Bush. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. (History.com)

Your Response



Document

Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

ca. 2004

These poster size graphics were made by the staff of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, more popularly known as the 9/11 Commission, for display during the Commission's public hearings. They depict the movements and timeline of events related to the four planes hijacked by terrorists on the morning of September 11, 2001, as well as the U.S. Air Force fighters that were scrambled to intercept them. In November 2002, Congress created the independent National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, popularly called the 9/11 Commission, to thoroughly investigate the attack. The Commission saw that much evidence pointing to the plot was known prior to 9/11, but that information was not shared widely enough to connect the dots. After the publication of the 9/11 Commission report in July 2004, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to create a new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and a new counterintelligence center to promote information-sharing between agencies.

Text adapted from “Congress Investigates: Pearl Harbor and 9/11 Congressional Hearing Exhibits” in the September 2011 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
This primary source comes from the Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch.
National Archives Identifier: 5899988
Full Citation: Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001; ca. 2004; Records of the Commission's General Services Administration Building Office, 3/2003 - 8/2004; Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/map-of-four-flights-and-timeline-of-events-on-september-11-2001, April 29, 2024]


Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

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Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

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Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

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Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

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Map of Four Flights and Timeline of Events on September 11, 2001

Page 5



Document

[Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM]

5/7/2003

This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
National Archives Identifier: 6645165
Full Citation: [Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM]; 5/7/2003; Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/[subject-operationseries-iraqi-freedom], April 29, 2024]


[Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM]

Page 1



Document

President George W. Bush and White House Staff Watch News Coverage of Flight 175 Striking the South Tower of the World Trade Center at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida

9/11/2001

This photograph shows President George W. Bush and White House Staff at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, watching news coverage of Flight 175 striking the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11th terrorist attacks. The photograph includes Secret Service Agent Eddie Marinzel, CIA Briefer Michael Morell, White House Situation Room Director Deborah Loewer, President George W. Bush, Deputy Assistant to the President Dan Bartlett, and Senior Advisor Karl Rove.
This primary source comes from the Collection GWB-WHPO: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 5997214
Full Citation: Photograph P7058-20A; President George W. Bush and White House Staff Watch News Coverage of Flight 175 Striking the South Tower of the World Trade Center at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida; 9/11/2001; Photographs Related to the George W. Bush Administration, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009; Collection GWB-WHPO: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration), ; George W. Bush Library, Dallas, TX. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/bush-staff-news-flight-175, April 29, 2024]


President George W. Bush and White House Staff Watch News Coverage of Flight 175 Striking the South Tower of the World Trade Center at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida

Page 1



Document

Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

8/1/2003

This primary source comes from the Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch.
National Archives Identifier: 2610168
Full Citation: Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3 ; 8/1/2003; Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/memorandum-for-the-record-mfr-of-a-background-briefing-on-afganistan-and-the-taliban-conducted-by-team-3, April 29, 2024]


Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

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Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

Page 2



Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

Page 3



Memorandum for the Record (MFR) of a Background Briefing on Afganistan and the Taliban Conducted by Team 3

Page 4



Document

President George W. Bush Signs Patriot Act

10/26/2001

This primary source comes from the Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 5997381
Full Citation: President George W. Bush Signs Patriot Act; 10/26/2001; Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration), . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/president-george-w-bush-signs-patriot-act, April 29, 2024]


President George W. Bush Signs Patriot Act

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Document

Portrait: Republic of Iraq Former President Saddam Hussein, following his capture by US Army (USA) Soldiers in Tikrit, Iraq

12/14/2003

The original description for this photograph: Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Tikrit State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: Unknown Release Status: Released to Public
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
National Archives Identifier: 6642320
Full Citation: Portrait: Republic of Iraq Former President Saddam Hussein, following his capture by US Army (USA) Soldiers in Tikrit, Iraq; 12/14/2003; Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/portrait-republic-of-iraq-former-president-saddam-hussein-following-his-capture-by-us-army-usa-soldiers-in-tikrit-iraq, April 29, 2024]


Portrait: Republic of Iraq Former President Saddam Hussein, following his capture by US Army (USA) Soldiers in Tikrit, Iraq

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Document

Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan seen from West Street

5/1973

This primary source comes from the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 549302
Full Citation: Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan seen from West Street; 5/1973; Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/towers-of-the-world-trade-center-in-lower-manhattan-seen-from-west-street, April 29, 2024]


Towers of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan seen from West Street

Page 1



Document

Address to Nation on Terrorist Attacks

9/11/2001

President George W. Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office regarding the terrorist attacks on the United States. You can also watch the video in our main National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Collection GWB-WHCA: Records of the White House Communications Agency (George W. Bush Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 6171390
Full Citation: Motion Picture WHTV 593; Address to Nation on Terrorist Attacks; 9/11/2001; White House Television (WHTV) Video Recordings, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009; Collection GWB-WHCA: Records of the White House Communications Agency (George W. Bush Administration), ; George W. Bush Library, Dallas, TX. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/address-nation-terrorist-attacks, April 29, 2024]


Address to Nation on Terrorist Attacks

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