HIST 405 Week 8: America and Terrorism in the 21st Century

HIST 405 Week 8: America and Terrorism in the 21st Century

America and Terrorism in the 21st Century

Terrorism threatens people’s safety and has regrettable economic and health consequences. The 2001 9/11 bombing of the World Trade Centers and the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 are two significant attacks that demonstrate how the United States is vulnerable to internal and external attacks. Besides the loss of lives and property damage, these terrorist attacks were associated with physical and neuro-traumatic injuries to military and civilian victims (Corbett et al., 2023; Tovar et al., 2021). A critical analysis of perpetrators shows well-prepared and resourced (financial and weapons) terror groups, such as Al-Qaeda, committed to causing harm. Despite their capacity and motivation, it is possible to stop global and domestic terrorism.  Achieving this goal necessitates a multimodal approach that combines military power, intensified border surveillance, and healthy international relations. The United States should also empower its intelligence organs to ensure they can gather and analyze data to neutralize terrorist threats.

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The use of police or military force is common and effective in fighting terrorism. However, it is not the only way to prevent terrorism. Other possible alternatives include diplomacy, peaceful coexistence, and improving border security. Long (2022) found diplomacy effective in preventing terrorism since it helps to address the root cause, prevent bloody conflicts, and maintain positive cross-border relations. Diplomacy also helps nations to unite and strengthen their counter-terrorism capacity. Since the causes of terrorism are diverse, a multifaceted strategy is the best. Such a strategy ensures the specific cause is addressed and can prevent terrorism in the long term.

References

Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Vickery, P., & Waskiewicz, S. (2023, July 6). U.S. History. OpenStax, OER Commons. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history

Long, M. (2022). American covert action and diplomacy after 9/11. Diplomacy & Statecraft, 33(2), 379-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592296.2022.2062133

Tovar, M. A., Bell, R. S., & Neal, C. J. (2021). Epidemiology of blast neurotrauma: a meta-analysis of blast injury patterns in the military and civilian populations. World Neurosurgery, 146, 308-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.093

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America and Terrorism in the 21st Century

Discussion

Required Resources

In your American History course, you will utilize scholarly sources to address questions in the weekly assignments. Please be advised that History.com, Wiki, Wikipedia, or websites such as cliffnotes.com, studymode.com, coursehero.com, and the like are not deemed scholarly sources. Therefore, use your course text and incorporate an additional scholarly source from the Chamberlain Library in your response.

Below is a list of resources you must choose from:

Scholarly Articles for the Week 8 Discussion Board

Initial Post Instructions

In preparation for the initial post, consider two (2) terrorist activities from the 1980s until today. You may also choose from domestic terrorist attacks. Here is a starting point:

  • 1983: The United States Embassy in Beirut and Kuwait is bombed.
  • 1983: Bombing of US Marine barracks in Beirut
  • 1993: World Trade Center Bombing (first time)
  • 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing
  • 1998: United States Embassy bombings Nairobi and Sar Es Salaam
  • 2001: 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Centers
  • 2001: Bio Terrorism begins (anthrax letters and Bill Gates’s warnings on bioterrorism)
  • 2013: Boston Marathon Bombings
  • 2015: Charleston Church shooting (Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church)
  • 2016: Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting
  • 2018: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
  • 2019: El Paso shooting (Walmart)
  • 2022: Buffalo shooting (Tops Supermarket)

Then, in one (1) to two (2) paragraphs, address two (2) of the following:

  • Explain if you think that global and domestic terrorism can be stopped.
  • Analyze whether the United States should be the world’s “policeman.”
  • Assess if using military or police force is the only way to prevent terrorism. Are there other possible alternatives? Which strategy is best and why?
  • Discuss the ways American society has changed since 9/11 in the realms of our government, workplace, and society in general.
  • Analyze two terrorist events from this list or from other modern terrorist events. How do they compare and/or contrast?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

  • Respond to one peer.
  • Further the dialogue by building upon their post with information you uncovered while researching.
  • Include one (1) meaningful scholarly source to demonstrate much depth. A scholarly source can include your textbook, assigned readings, or additional scholarly research.

Writing Requirements

  • Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
  • APA format for in-text citations and list of references

Grading

This activity will be graded using the Discussion Grading Rubric.

Course Outcomes

  • CO 3: Explain the influence of historical events on American culture and society.
  • CO 4: Analyze America’s identity from the founding of the United States to the modern era.
  • CO 6: Analyze America’s domestic politics and foreign policy in the World.
  • CO 7: Analyze the relationship and relevance of past events to current events in American history.

Due Dates

Due date for the initial post: By 11:59 p.m. MT; recommended by Wednesday

Due date for follow-up posts: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Saturday.

Posts must be on two separate days.

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