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What is Terrorism?

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What is Terrorism?
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 10
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	8.95

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		antinuclear, coercion, counterterrorism, hijacking, ideological, Murrah, therein, precedent, horrific, vengeance, economic, unconventional, terrorism, far-reaching, suicide, distribution
	content words:		World Trade Center, United States, French Revolution, Red Brigades, Weather Underground, Northern Ireland, Popular Front, Israeli El Al, Tel Aviv, Alfred P.

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What is Terrorism? By Jennifer Kenny

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¹     What do you think of when you hear the word terrorism? Most people will refer to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Of course, these were horrific attacks especially considering over 3,000 people lost their lives that day. There was no precedent like that before. Unfortunately, though, that is not the only terrorist attack in history. Terrorism has existed in the world for quite a long time.
 
²     What exactly is terrorism? Well, there are many different definitions out there. However, these definitions have certain things in common. Terrorism involves extraordinary violence. It is intended to create massive fear and involves a planned attack for a purpose, often against something or someone. Terrorism is meant to have an audience. The differences between various terrorist attacks involve the people, purpose, and how it is carried out.
 
³     Terrorism is a technique, it's a criminal activity, and is planned in advance. For example, did you know that the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya in 1998 was planned for 5 years? You can see, terrorism is an act meant to produce fear without caring about human life. The definition of terrorism used by the government of the United States refers to intimidation of the civilians, the influence of government policy by coercion or fear, or trying to change the government by assassination or kidnapping.
 
⁴     While terrorism is meant to be an act of violence to bring about change, it is usually not committed by those officially in the government. Usually, terrorist groups have fewer members than you would think. They want to be dramatic and attract attention by carrying out a bloody act. They hope to gain power and influence because of the act.

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