What major event occurred on September 11, 2001?

On September 11, 2001, a significant and tragic event unfolded as a coordinated series of terrorist attacks orchestrated by the extremist group al-Qaeda targeted key locations in the United States. This date is primarily remembered for the hijacking of four commercial airplanes, two of which were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the towers to collapse. Another plane struck the Pentagon, and the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was brought down by passengers before it could reach its intended target, likely the U.S. Capitol or the White House.

The impacts of these attacks were profound, leading to extensive human loss, significant changes in American domestic and foreign policies, and the initiation of the War on Terror. This event marked a pivotal moment in U.S. history, reshaping national security protocols and international relations, and influencing public perception and political discourse in the years that followed. The choice regarding the Affordable Care Act, a mission to Mars, or the end of the Cold War does not relate to this critical event, established through its immediate consequences and the lasting changes it triggered in the nation and the world.