Introduction
History has become one of the best ways to learn, understand, and apply cultural aspects in daily life. A people’s heritage is tied to their leaders’ principles, ideals, and values and taught to the people. America is a nation with a rich heritage following its historical dealings, leadership, challenges, and solutions obtained throughout its 245 years of independence (Corbett et al., 2014). Terrorism is a menace that has shaken the United States and the entire world. America is known for its solid defenses and deliberate fights against forces threatening its peace and prosperity. Learning how the country has addressed terrorism in the past and its implication on today’s American culture is crucial to developing a plan of action to advance American values in every dimension. This paper analyzes America’s war on terrorism based on historical facts and traces its relevance in today’s political and social interactions.
Lessons Learned
The U.S. has faced multiple challenges, all of which have led to policy changes. One of the critical lessons learned in this course is that terrorism has been one of America’s treats, to which the nation has directed much attention. The September 2001 attack, popularly termed the 9/11 highlighted the severe effects of terrorism on a nation’s people and resources (Young et al., 2011). After the attack, America’s war on terror took a new dimension, focusing on healing the nation from the impacts and preventing future attacks. Notably, the country has not had a similar attack ever since, a factor that can be attributed to its policy change and leadership structure (Corbett et al., 2014). A nation’s response to war determines its direction and future techniques to address similar issues. Scholars, activists, and administrators rely on history to shape their courses of action. Studying America’s political and administrative process following the war introduces vital lessons applicable to every history student’s present and future roles.
Terrorism Impacts Humanity and National Resources
War has often been viewed through the lens of loss of life. Although life may be the most precious of all resources, learning other impacts of terrorism concerning nations is essential. Through the course, I realized that terrorism not only results in death but also limits a country’s progress by destroying critical resources. Corbett et al. (2014) record that the 9/11 attack was one of America’s historical moments that resulted in the deaths of more than three thousand individuals and the destruction of essential facilities in the country. This understanding is crucial for a history student as it outlines the cause of stringent regulations by the U.S government. According to Young et al. (2011), the counterterrorism bureau formed after the 9/11 attack was significant to America’s war on terrorism. Before the attack, the nation had not paid much attention to establishing national bodies and authorities against invading forces. I comprehend that the episode revealed U.S. defense weaknesses.
Knowledge can be gained through several methods, some of which put the nation in a better position in the future. Establishing a counterterrorism unit is a considerable investment affecting a country’s financial and physical resources. The establishment of the department of homeland security in 2002 teaches historians of the immediate response to terror (Corbett et al., 2014). The nation had to re-evaluate its defenses, establish the gaps and initiate actions. This is relevant to current and future historians, politicians, and administrators since they learn what to do in similar circumstances. On the same note, I realized that a country is endowed with intellectual and natural resources that can be effectively re-deployed to solve all problems. After the attack, U.S. president Bush reorganized the military to form coalition forces that ultimately brought down the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks (Young et al., 2011). From this approach, I learned that problems should be addressed by first acknowledging the problem and effectively utilizing available opportunities.
Terrorism Destroys Diplomatic Relationships
A leader is charged with the heavy responsibility of ensuring that the people over whom he is placed enjoy peace regardless of multiple threats launched against them. In matters of national security, the president can make or destroy diplomatic relationships. This implies that although nations need to collaborate, threatening the peace of another requires prompt and focused retaliation. After the 9/11 attack, the U.S. severed its relationship with Afghanistan with the support of several world leaders (Young et al., 2011). Throughout the course, I have seen how the U.S. invaded nations that threatened its national peace and eventually brought peace to the country. In essence, this reveals that a leader has a duty first to their home country then to the rest of the world.
Advice and Personal Connections
The history course has positively impacted my daily life by changing how I see the world around me. Before taking this unit, I often arrived at the wrong conclusion because I did not approach issues from the standpoint of historical events and future implications. In my daily interactions, I have now learned that there is a solution to every problem. I now try to comprehend the causes of an issue from its history, evaluate the current trends, and develop a plan to handle potential future recurrence. In my career practice, problem-solving is a crucial skill that I have applied currently and will continue implementing in the future.
Having studied the value of a nation’s history, I can advise incoming students to be open-minded when learning these units. Although America is composed of various ethnic groups, the national goal and the American dream should be the driving forces. Therefore, students should learn to override their personal differences and appreciate each other. The future of U.S. peace and prosperity lies in the hands of individuals who will use what they have learned for the common good, regardless of political, social, and economic disparities.
Learning is a process, and one should be strategic for best results. One of my best strategies has been an in-depth evaluation of a concept at a time and establishing practical applications. For example, after learning about the 9/11 terror attack, I followed secondary resources to understand what people felt about the incident and what would have been done. This technique has helped me remember crucial points and pass my course assessments, showing the importance of planning to success in this course.
Passing the exam is everyone’s desire and should be prioritized. To score an A in this course is easy and possible for every student. The best strategies include daily revisions and teamwork. After learning a concept in class, it is helpful to repeat it individually at the end of the day. This keeps the mind active and minimizes forgetfulness. In addition, groups can help one to gather knowledge and insight from others, adding to their existing knowledge and thereby excelling in the course.
Conclusion
In conclusion, America’s history is deep and valuable for solving current challenges. Terrorism is among the most impactful events that have shaken the U.S. economic and political environments. The course has highlighted how America was hit during the 9/11 attack and the subsequent events. The knowledge gained from this course is helpful in solving similar problems in the future. Through focused revision and teamwork, students can excel in the course and apply the skills learned to solve life challenges.
References
Corbett, S., Janssen, V., Lund, J., Pfannestiel, T., Waskiewicz, S., & Vickery, P. (2014). U.S. History. OpenStax. Web.
Young, N., Milton, P., & Anderson, R. G. (Producers). (2011). The counterterrorism bureau [Video]. Columbia Broadcasting System.