This document discusses balancing homeland security and civil liberties after 9/11. It describes how the U.S. established the Department of Homeland Security and passed the Patriot Act to increase surveillance of potential terrorists. It also discusses fusion centers created to gather and share intelligence nationwide and debates whether these security measures have made the country safer at the cost of individual privacy and freedom.

2. Objectives
 I can explain how the United States changed its homeland
security policies following 9/11.
 I can discuss the balance between security and civil liberties.

3. Take a Stand Statements
 Statement 1: We need more security checks for airline
passengers.
 Statement 2: The government should be able to view
internet browsing history and phone records of suspected
terrorists.
 Statement 3: The government should be able to look at my
internet browsing history and phone records to determine if
I might be a terrorist.

4. Civil Liberties vs. Security
 Civil Liberties: The freedom of a citizen to exercise rights
such as freedom of speech, movement, or assembly without
unwarranted or arbitrary interference by the government.
 Security: Protection from terrorist attacks.

5. Homeland Security After
9/11
 Many viewed 9/11 as the result of a failure of intelligence
and communication between Government Agencies.
 Department of Homeland Security: A branch of the
government which combined many government agencies and
tasked them with preventing and responding to terrorist
attacks against the United States.
 Granted huge amounts of funding.
 The Patriot Act: A Law passed by Congress in 2001 that gave
the government the ability use wiretaps, internet records, and
increased surveillance to track potential terrorist threats.

6. Fusion Centers
 Fusion Centers: A national network of centers housed in
major urban areas with the aim of gathering and
communicating information to other parts of the country.

7. Are We Safer? Discussion
Questions
 Are We Safer?
 What strategies does the government use to gather
intelligence on possible terrorist threats?
 Which strategies seem effective and which ones not?
 Are there any strategies being used by our government that
concern you? Why or why not?

8. SAR Activity
 Read about each situation.
 Decide whether the situation should be considered
suspicious or not.
 Be ready to defend your answer.
 What are possible problems with SAR reporting?

9. Take a Stand Part 2
 The use of Suspicious Activity Reports provide a valuable
resource on potentially criminal behaviors which has helped
to keep this country safe over the past 15 years.”

10. Captain America: Political
Dilemma
 Captain America: Politics of Superheroes
 What connections does Captain America’s stories have with
issues that we have examined during this unit?
 Based on his stances of not allowing the government to
control his actions as a superhero and not using technology
to kill suspected terrorists represent that of America?