Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States still lives under the influence of one of the most significant events in its recent history. The tragedy brought down the Twin Towers, hit the Pentagon, and caused the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, leaving nearly 3,000 dead and profoundly transforming American society.
One of the most visible changes occurred in airports, with stricter boarding procedures, expanded inspections, new technologies, and greater control over passengers and baggage. Security also came to occupy a central space at borders and in intelligence policies, with greater cooperation between agencies and strengthened surveillance mechanisms.
The attacks marked the beginning of a new phase in American foreign policy, with the launch of the so-called "war on terror." The United States invaded Afghanistan weeks after the attacks and, in 2003, began the invasion of Iraq. Both wars dragged on for years and left consequences that continue to be debated. At the same time, discussions grew about privacy, civil rights, and the limits of governmental power in the name of national security.
The tragedy also caused profound social consequences, with Arab and Muslim communities in the United States facing greater distrust and discrimination. About 100 million Americans had not been born or were too young to remember the attacks. For this generation, September 11 is increasingly an event studied in schools, although its consequences are still present in society, in schools, in airports, and in American identity itself.
