What major event took place on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced a devastating terrorist attack orchestrated by the extremist group al-Qaeda. This coordinated assault involved the hijacking of four commercial airliners, with two planes crashing into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and another plane hitting the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was headed for a target in Washington, D.C., but passengers attempted to retake control, and it ultimately crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

The impact of the attacks was monumental, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and significant destruction, leading to widespread fear and a national crisis. The events of 9/11 prompted extensive changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, including the initiation of the War on Terror and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security.

In contrast, the other choices do not reflect the events of that day; there were no significant elections or natural disasters occurring on September 11, 2001, that carried the same immediate global impact as the terrorist attacks. The financial crisis, while a significant event that would later unfold, is not directly associated with this particular date.