Process Paper

The Failed Response To 9/11

Shengwen Jin

Junior Division

Individual Documentary

Process Paper: 500 words

Process Paper

The failed response to 9/11

The inspiration for my 2021 National History Day project was originally from an interview with a firefighter who had experienced 9/11. During this period, I browsed the photos of 9/11 and the topic of the Iraq war online. These messages seemed to tell me that 9/11 was a coherent event. It was not only an act of revenge but also a reflection of Bin Laden's conspiracy. I decided to continue researching this topic because I am fascinated by the DHS that has been established since 2011, and the establishment of DHS has also affected the overseas trade of a part of my father's company. DHS's project can be a good explanation for the US government's overseas policy towards Muslims and the Americans' discriminatory treatment towards Muslims.

Finding the primary and secondary sources for my project began with some street interviews and conspiracy theories about 9/11. My research slowly evolved from the sources of the official archives of the US government and the exploration of Jstor. Watching George W. Bush's speech after 9/11 also greatly aided me in better understanding the topic. I further managed to interview an eyewitness passerby who witnessed the 9/11 incident firsthand. The information he provided greatly improved my understanding of the 9/11 scene. When I browsed the photos he provided, it included firefighters who couldn't help but stand under the building to rescue people who jumped to their deaths from the tall building. He also shared his views on 9/11 and Muslims. The visual impact of the video on me and listening to the views of a passerby who experienced 9/11 were my most valuable resources.

According to most of the literature I collected, I think the blackboard newspaper is the most suitable expression of my research results. My inspiration mainly comes from interviews and a large number of literature records. I think it's easiest to remember to present it in the form of literature. I think the purpose of books is to impart knowledge, while blackboard newspapers can make it easier for people to remember the essence and important points of the event. By showing the timeline of 9/11, it is easier for people to understand the occurrence of 9/11 and the corresponding consecutive events.

My project relates to the 2021 National History Day theme of Debate & Diplomacy. Before 9/11, "terrorism" was not a household term. It was usually confined to political discussions involving hard-line communists or anarchists. After 9/11, the U.S. economy declined, and world investors began to have doubts about the security environment in the United States.From 2007 to 2009, the US federal interest rate continued to increase, from 1% to 5.25%. The sharp rise in interest rates has increased the repayment burden of homebuyers. The September 11th incident was not the only cause but one of the main fuses of the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, which accelerated the early arrival of the subprime mortgage crisis.