The Pew Research Center has come out with a list of the top historical events of the past in American history that have had the most significant influence on the lives of modern-day citizens.
With contributions from Claudia Deane, Rich Morin, and Maeve Duggan
What it means to be an American is defined by the experiences that we all have in common. The terrorist events that took place on September 11, 2001, were such a defining moment for modern-day Americans.
A recent survey performed by the Pew Research Center and HISTORY on A+E Networks revealed that nothing has even come close to having the same kind of effect or staying in people’s memories. During past century and cold war, people had different attitude.
According to the findings of an online poll that included 2,025 participants and was conducted between June 16 and July 4, 2016, over three-quarters (76 percent) of the population identified the 9/11 attacks as one of the 10 most significant events in the history of the United States. This is considered one of the most important events in human history, if not world history.
World wide web gives the data
Every traditional demographic group has arrived to the conclusion that the attacks on New York City and the Pentagon were historically significant.
The assaults of September 11 are considered to be one of the ten most significant events in American history by people of all demographics, including men and women, Millennials and Baby Boomers, college graduates and those who have only a high school education.
In spite of the fact that Republicans and Democrats appear to have fundamentally different perspectives on practically every other issue in this election year, well than seven in ten of each party’s voters believe that the attacks are among the top ten most important historical events. Western roman empire has a completely different perspective.
The only perspectives that do not adhere to this pattern are those that are presented in black and white. The events of September 11 are without a doubt the most momentous for white people, but for black people, the election of Barack Obama is tied for first place.
On the top ten list of life events that white people have compiled, the civil rights movement does not appear at all, despite the fact that it comes in third place, behind 9/11 and Obama’s election as president. British empire also takes this as a historic event that must be remembered.
Second world war-the agreement among people
The overwhelming agreement among people regarding the importance of September 11th is almost as shocking as the steep drop in the number of people in the United States who can name other key events.
Obama’s victory in the election, which was brought up by forty percent of the public, comes in at number two on the list of events that people talk about the most. The vast majority of individuals are completely unable to recollect any additional names or details of events.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Internet, computers, smartphones, and other technological advances are all covered in this time period, including the Vietnam War.
It is the experiences that members of a generation have had for themselves that shape their perspective on recent history.
Analysis of information relevant to earlier generations
The findings of the study tend to be age-specific as a result of the fact that respondents were asked to recall experiences that took place during the course of their life.
Millennials and members of Generation X have a more limited historical knowledge base than either Baby Boomers or members of the Silent Generation due to the shorter lifespans of these two generations.
Simply because younger Americans did not mention World War II as an important historical event does not mean that they do not believe it to be an important historical event; rather, it simply means that they were not alive to witness it when it occurred and therefore have no personal connection to it.
It is possible to trace, at least in part, the identities of generations back to key events that took place during the formative years of the people who made up that generation.
World War II was the event that brought together the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation. When it comes to significant events, only the 9/11 attacks are more significant to these individuals (44 percent), making it the second most important event overall (59 percent ). 1
Alongside the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War and the Apollo 11 moon landing are among the most significant historical events that left an indelible mark on members of the Baby Boom age.
41 percent of Baby Boomers also mention the Vietnam War, and 35 percent identify the moon landing as being among the top ten events of their lives. The assassination of John F. Kennedy is mentioned by 35 percent of Baby Boomers (events that are also on the top 10 list for the Silent Generation).
Millennials and Generation X already place the events of September 11 and Barack Obama’s election as the nation’s first black president near the top of their lists of the most significant historical events.
They are distinguishable from the generations that came before them due to the high level of consensus that exists among the younger generation. Eighty-six percent of Millennials believe that the events of September 11th and the election of Barack Obama to the presidency were significant.
Historical events of the past: World war II – significant event of the generation
In a similar vein, forty percent of millennials consider the election of Barack Obama to be the most significant event of their generation, whereas seventy-nine percent of Gen Xers consider September 11th to be the most significant event of their generation. More over a quarter of the members of the older age bring up historical events in conversation.
When comparing President Obama’s presidency to the events of September 11, 2001, the generational gap between baby boomers and millennials is the greatest. The attacks on the United States that took place on September 11 are the only historical event that has been the subject of controversy for multiple generations.
However, there is a large amount of variation in the percentage of people from each generation who share this attitude. Despite the fact that only 59 percent of Baby Boomers and older people considered the terrorist attacks of September 11 to be notable, 86 percent of Millennials hold this view.