Chapter 7 Part 1
PRE 9/11 TERRORIST EVENT TOPIC: Oklahoma City Bombing (occurred on 4/19/1995)
POST 9/11 TERRORIST EVENT TOPIC: Boston Marathon Bombing (occurred on 4/15/2003)
Instructions
In Unit VII, submit your research paper on your chosen domestic pre- and post-9/11 terrorist event. The research paper must be written using the following outline structure:
1. Title page
2. Introduction: In this section, identify the two terrorist events that have been previously selected, and briefly explain why these events serve as good comparison points for evaluating how terrorist activities have evolved over time.
3. Pre-9/11 terrorist event: In this section, describe the first terrorist event that is being used for comparison. The description of this terrorist event must include the nature of the event, methods used by the terrorists, and eventual outcome of the event.
4. Post-9/11 terrorist event: In this section, describe the second terrorist event that is being used for comparison. The description of this terrorist event must include the nature of the event, methods used by the terrorists, and eventual outcome of the event.
5. Terrorist events comparison: In this section, compare and contrast the two terrorist events that were described in the previous sections. Suggested areas for comparison include (1) motivations for attacks, (2) methods of attack, (3) impact on society, and (4) lessons learned from attacks that can be used to develop counterterrorist strategies. You should also discuss how terrorist strategies have evolved from the first event to the second event.
6. Summary and conclusions: In this section, summarize the evolution of terrorism based upon the two selected events.
7. References: Provide a reference list.
While the level of detail in each section of the research paper will vary, it is expected that the final paper will be at least three pages in length, not counting the title and reference pages.
Adhere to APA Style when constructing this assignment, including in-text citations and references for all sources that are used. Please note that no abstract is needed.
Answer:
Title: The Evolution of Domestic Terrorism in the United States: A Comparison of the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Boston Marathon Bombing
Introduction: The United States has witnessed several acts of terrorism on its soil both before and after the 9/11 attacks. In this research paper, two domestic terrorist events, the Oklahoma City Bombing (1995) and the Boston Marathon Bombing (2013), will be used to evaluate how terrorism has evolved over time in the country. The two events will be compared in terms of motivations for attacks, methods of attack, impact on society, and lessons learned.
Pre-9/11 Terrorist Event: The Oklahoma City Bombing On April 19, 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. The attack resulted in the deaths of 168 people and injured more than 680 others. The nature of the attack was an act of domestic terrorism, carried out by American citizens with anti-government ideologies. The methods used by the terrorists included the use of a rental truck loaded with explosives, parked in front of the federal building.
Post-9/11 Terrorist Event: The Boston Marathon Bombing On April 15, 2013, two bombs were detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring over 260 others. The nature of the attack was also an act of domestic terrorism, carried out by two individuals with extremist ideologies. The methods used by the terrorists included pressure cooker bombs that were placed in a crowded area.
Terrorist Events Comparison: The motivations behind the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Boston Marathon Bombing were different. McVeigh and Nichols were motivated by anti-government sentiments, while the Tsarnaev brothers, who carried out the Boston Marathon Bombing, were motivated by extremist ideologies. The methods used in the two attacks were also different, with the Oklahoma City Bombing using a truck bomb and the Boston Marathon Bombing using pressure cooker bombs.
The impact of the two attacks on society was significant. The Oklahoma City Bombing was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the United States prior to 9/11, while the Boston Marathon Bombing was the first significant act of terrorism in the United States after 9/11. The lessons learned from the two attacks have been used to develop counterterrorist strategies. For example, the Oklahoma City Bombing led to an increase in security at federal buildings, while the Boston Marathon Bombing led to improved emergency response and increased security measures at large public events.
Summary and Conclusions: In conclusion, the evolution of domestic terrorism in the United States can be observed by comparing the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Boston Marathon Bombing. The motivations, methods, impact, and lessons learned from these two events show that terrorism has evolved over time in the United States, with a shift from anti-government sentiments to extremist ideologies as the primary motivator. The country has responded to these threats by improving security measures and emergency response.
References:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Oklahoma City bombing. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/history/terrorism/oklahoma-city-bombing
- United States Department of Justice. (2015). Boston Marathon bombing. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/boston-marathon-bombing
