Two Decades Later, the Enduring Legacy of 9/11

American flag and a 9-11 flag with the Washington Monument in the background
Year Published
2021
Author (Individual)
Hannah Hartig, Carroll Doherty
Author (Organization)
Pew Research Center
Resource Type
Brief
Resource Language
English

The enduring power of the Sept. 11 attacks is clear: An overwhelming share of Americans who are old enough to recall the day remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. Yet an ever-growing number of Americans have no personal memory of that day, either because they were too young or not yet born.

A review of U.S. public opinion in the two decades since 9/11 reveals how a badly shaken nation came together, briefly, in a spirit of sadness and patriotism; how the public initially rallied behind the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, though support waned over time; and how Americans viewed the threat of terrorism at home and the steps the government took to combat it.

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