SUnderwood.HistoricalInquiryPaper

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Sydney Underwood

Elizabeth Caruso

English 1102

February 22, 2012

September 11th, 2001

On September 11th, 2001, our world was forever changed. Four passenger planes were

hijacked and two of these were flown into the World Trade Centers by terrorists. Within hours,

the towers collapsed. This event left Americans wondering what was next to come, and what

exactly this meant for America. Many say “history repeats itself,” so this thought left us with the

similar attack on Pearl Harbor, that was a sudden attack on the United States as well. Looking

back on both of these events, a nation that thought they were secure, were unexpectedly

surprised by attacks on its own land. Many lives in return were affected in several different ways.

No matter what happened on that day, the next day America had to pick up the pieces and move

on.

September 11th left America with many lost and forgotten lives. The attack was not

geared toward military nor government officials, but sadly civilians going about their everyday

lives. Americans knew who their attackers were and even that they may be at war, but did not

know what the future held. Through all the chaos and tragedy, the nation responded with urgency

and patriotism. Civilians started to buy and display American flags, donate to charities across



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the nation, and come together as a family. But, difference of opinions still remained and cause

havoc.

There are many conspiracies that have arisen following September 11th1. People believe

that there were inside traders that knew about the attack even before it happened (Aleshinloye

pp. 2). Questionable business was taking place in the stock market and insurance companies

prior to the attack. Such as, an enormous about of put options and stocks being put into United

Airlines, which were the airlines to be hijacked. Many believe that traders profited from the

attacks (Aleshinloye pp. 2.)

Another conspiracy was that the trade centers were bombed. The collapse happened very

similar to that of a controlled demolition. Witnesses reported that on their way out, they heard

explosions. Scientists as well as architects have studied the incident and say that a plane’s fuel

cannot produce enough heat to melt the steel frame in which the towers were built (Aleshinloye

pp.3). The fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, was reported to have crashed in Pennsylvania. Many

believe that the plane landed safely while another staged plane was shot out of the sky. Others

believe that the plane’s passengers were murdered and relocated, never to be found. Also, the

hijackers are believed to be alive in other countries (Aleshinloye pp. 5.) The question has been

raised, that how has the passports and identifications survive an explosion that destroyed

buildings?

Another shocking conspiracy was that the cell phone calls made from the plane were in

fact fake calls (Aleshinloye pp.7.) Scientists pointed out that cell phones could not receive

reception from the altitude that planes typically fly at. It was documented that well over 4,000

Jewish employees took off work on the day of the attack. The first recordings of the attack were



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those from Jewish cameras. Lastly, commercial airplanes are constructed out of aluminum in

order to make it easier to fly. Scientists believe that aluminum airplanes could not do the damage

that was done to the steel tower (Aleshinloye pp. 8.)

No matter what caused this tragedy, it still happened. It all happened on November 11th

,

2001,at about 8:15am2, Flight 11 begins to no longer respond to FAA’s Boston Air Route Traffic

Control Center. The plane had gotten hijacked along with three other passenger airplanes. These

planes were headed to Los Angeles on a daily routine. At 8:26 a.m., Flight 11 makes a sudden

turn towards New York City, New York, hitting the World Trade Centers at about 466 miles per

hour between floors 93 and 99.

Many employees did not even have a clue as to what was going on. They were not alerted

by officials, codes, or alarms. They heard crashing and bombing and looked out the window to

see what was going on. It was nearly an hour after the planes hit that several workers even began

to try and escape. As one woman was working on the 64th floor, her and her co-workers weren’t

given any information as to what was going on, so it was nearly an hour before they started to

head down the stairs. As she stopped on the 13th floor to take her shoes off, the building

collapses. (Guzman-McMillan.)3

This just shows how fast and unexpected this whole ordeal

happened.

The life thereafter September 11th

, is definitely a different one4. Not only personally but

governmentally as well. There is no such thing as leisure flying anymore (Lawrence 2). Long

security lines and pat downs require more time and effort, so you have to plan ahead and it has

made flying more of a hassle rather than a fun experience. You are likely never going to be

somewhere without an ‘emergency response kit’ handed to you (Lawrence 4). Whether it is in



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your office at work, doctors’ office, or just everyday places, chances are you will find an

emergency kit at your access. Many families have sought professional help in creating an

emergency action plan for their household (Lawrence 5). Families and offices have come

together and created an emergency action plan in case of a catastrophe.

The attacks made many people want to join the military, but now more than ever, they

don’t leave the same way they came (Lawrence 6). Americans have less trust in the security and

our government as a whole (Lawrence 7). Americans feel as though our national security is weak

and fragile because they let this tragedy happen. Right to privacy no longer exists (Lawrence 8).

Law enforcement is able to search everything from medical records to your phone records.

Overall, the events of September, however they came about, have changed, influenced,

and left an impact on each and every American’s lives.

1I really liked learning and researching about the different conspiracies that have been raised into question, and I

definitely want to incorporate some of these into my concept and maybe add a few of my own to add a little twist.2

This is the time that my main character will be at work going about his everyday routine. I will open up with his

night before and the events leading up to the plans crashing.3

My character in my concept story will have a similar experience as this lady did. He will not have any clues as to

what is going on. He will stay in the building for an extended amount of time before he convinces his self that he

needs to escape.4

For the life after 9/11, my character will display a great amount of heroism and get reunited with his family after

several hours of lying in the debris. His life afterwards will demonstrate courage, bravery, determination, and

strong willed relationships.



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Works Cited

Aleshinloye, Samuel, writ. The 11 Most Compelling 9/11 Conspiracy Theories. NewsOne: 01/10/2011. Television.

<http://newsone.com/newsone-original/samalesh/the-11-most-compelling-911-conspiracy-theories/>.

Guzman-McMillan, Genelle. Internet Videoconference Interview. 08/23/2011.

Lawrence Jr., Calvin. "September 11th: 7 Ways 9/11 Has Changed Your Life." ABC news. ABC, 06/10/2011. Web. 14

Feb 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/US/september-11th-ways-911-changed-life/story?id=14324226

Sloan, Brian. "WTC VIEW: MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NEW YORK AFTER 9/11." N.p., 03 10 2011. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

<http://keepthelightsonfilm.com/archives/art-and-autobiography/wtc-view-my-autobiography-of-new-york-after-

911>.

Tobin, Lisa. "9/11 Stories: A Flight Attendant’s Calm Final Call." 90.9 WBUR, 09 06 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

<http://www.wbur.org/2011/09/06/911-stories-flight-attendant>.

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