Introduction
Terrorist attacks are unprecedented events that pose significant threats to communities, altering their way of life. The historical terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, represented a significant turning point in the American community. The series of bombings and aircraft seizures conducted by members of Al Qaeda-an Islamic extremist organization, led to the death of over two thousand civilians, military officials, firefighters, and the 19 terrorists involved (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). In addition, America’s business hubs were destroyed, causing a drastic drop in its GDP. Following the event, Americans’ cultural perceptions changed, as did their economic developments and political orientations.
Impacts of the Attack
The economic impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attack were immediately experienced in all spheres of the nation’s development. The country’s real GDP dropped by 0.5% as unemployment rates increased by 0.11% (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). The government allocated significant revenue to its military operations through the homeland security department, resulting in increased financial strains. Regarding their political orientations, Americans became more patriotic, raising their flag and believing in their government’s effort toward combating terrorism. However, as the nation grappled with drastic changes after the event, Arab Americans were negatively affected as the majority of Americans associated Muslims with terrorism resulting in ethnic discrimination powered by cultural stereotypes (Ohio, 2019). These sociocultural impacts have remained to this day, despite the government’s advocacy for equality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 9/11 attacks affected American social relations shaping ethnic identities in various ways. Although the nation has recovered from the economic downturn following the event, the Muslim community in the country has continued to face discrimination and segregation as it is mainly associated with terrorism. Patriotism grew after the attack and has remained high as Americans sand with the government regarding national threats and other domestic and international affairs.
References
Gaibulloev, K., & Sandler, T. (2019). What we have learned about terrorism since 9/11. Journal of Economic Literature, 57(2), 275-328. Web.
Ohio. (2019). What caused 9/11 – and the consequences that linger. Ohio State Insights. Web.