#10 LHS US History Skills Assessment: War on Terror Level 3
Source 1
Date: September 11, 2001 Description: President George W Bush addressing the nation the evening of September 11th. This was following the terrorist attacks that took place against the United States.
Source 2
Date: September 24, 2001 Description: This cover shows Osama bin Laden’s face superimposed over crosshairs with the bold headline: “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” The cover reflects the U.S. public mood just days after the September 11th attacks and the framing of the War on Terror as a manhunt.
Source 3
“The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or a designee of the Director... may make an application for an order requiring the production of any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, provided that such investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely upon the basis of activities protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.”
“A person who receives a production order... shall not disclose to any other person (other than those necessary to produce the tangible things under this section) that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has sought or obtained tangible things.”
“The judge shall grant such application if the application meets the requirements of this section.”
Title: Excerpt from the USA PATRIOT Act (2001), Section 215 – “Access to Records” Date: October 26, 2001 Description: This section expanded the U.S. government's ability to collect data during terrorism investigations.
Source 4
“The USA PATRIOT Act gives law enforcement agencies sweeping new powers to search telephone, email communications, medical, financial, and other records—often without probable cause and without a suspect's knowledge. While we all agree that fighting terrorism is a national priority, we must also protect the constitutional freedoms that define our democracy. Section 215... allows the government to collect information about what you read at the library, your bank transactions, or your medical history—all without a warrant issued upon probable cause. The law also includes a gag order, making it illegal for someone to even reveal they’ve been subject to a search. This kind of secrecy and unchecked power raises deep concerns about government overreach.”
Title: ACLU Press Release on the Patriot Act Date: December 2001 Creator: American Civil Liberties Union Description: The ACLU, a civil liberties advocacy organization, expresses concern over the USA PATRIOT Act's potential for abuse.
Question 1
Sourcing (Bush’s Address): Who is the speaker, and what was the immediate context for this message? How might the timing and audience affect the tone or content of this speech?
Question 2
Sourcing (Time Magazine Cover): When was this magazine issue published? How might that have influenced the content and style of the front cover.
Question 3
Sourcing (Patriot Act): Who wrote this law and why? What concerns or goals shaped its creation so soon after 9/11?
Question 4
Sourcing (ACLU Press Release): Who created this press release, and what is their purpose? How might their mission affect their point of view on the Patriot Act?
Question 5
Source 1 Close Reading: What key emotions or values does Bush emphasize in this speech? How does he frame the actions the U.S. will take?
Question 6
Source 2 Close Reading: What message does this cover send about how the U.S. viewed Osama bin Laden? How does the imagery (crosshairs, color, font) influence how the viewer feels?
Question 7
Source 3 Close Reading: What powers does Section 215 of the Patriot Act give to the government? How might different Americans have reacted to this at the time?
Question 8
Source 4 Close Reading: What specific concerns does the ACLU raise about Section 215 of the Patriot Act? What values are they appealing to?
Question 9
Corroboration - How do Sources 1 and 2 reflect similar feelings about national security, urgency, and the need to act? In what ways do they differ?
Question 10
Corroboration - Compare Sources 3 and 4. How do they present the same law (the Patriot Act) in two very different ways?
Question 11
Contextualization - Imagine you are explaining the early War on Terror to someone unfamiliar with it. How do these four sources together help paint a full picture of America’s emotional, political, and legal response in the early 2000s?
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