International Terrorism

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers training.

After 9/11, the priority mission of the Border Patrol changed
to preventing terrorists and terrorists' weapons, including
weapons of mass destruction, from entering the U.S.

 

Before September 11, 2001, most Americans felt little impact of terrorism in their lives. Certainly, there were incidents of domestic terrorism, such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, and terrorist acts against soldiers in the Middle East, but never before had Americans been exposed to the types of terrorist activities that we associated with other places like Israel and Northern Ireland. The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon erased the notion that terrorism only happened in developing countries or overseas.

In this topic, you'll look at some recent terrorist acts by a few individuals and see how these have transformed much of the world you live in. You'll also look at how governments have responded.

Essential Questions

• What are some examples of international terrorism in our world today that have impacted developed and developing nations?
• How has terrorism impacted developed and developing nations in the contemporary world?