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Remembering the Post-9/11 America

September 6, 2022

Topic

Veterans and Citizens Initiative

American Identity

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Based on our recent survey conducted among 1,000 Americans, 200 Muslim Americans, and 200 New York City residents, this report explores Americans’ memories of the country immediately after the September 11 attacks in 2001. What do Americans think defined this era, and what does “Never Forget” mean to Americans? 

Key Takeaways

  • For most Americans, “Never Forget” means remembering the victims of 9/11 and their families, along with the sacrifices of first responders. 
  • Feelings of fear and unity defined the period immediately after the 9/11 attacks, albeit with variation across generations.
  • Awareness of Islamophobia and mistreatment of minority groups varies across groups.

May/June 2022 Survey  

Polling Firm: YouGov 

Sample Size: n=2,500 US Citizens (nationally representative)  

Fieldwork Dates: May 17-June 3, 2022 

Margin of Error: +/- 2.0 for US avg. 

August 2022 Survey  

Polling Firm: YouGov  

Sample Size: n=1,000 US Citizens (nationally representative, oversamples of f N=200 Muslim Americans and N=200 New York City residents)  

Fieldwork Dates: August 12-24, 2022 

Margin of Error: +/- 3.1 for US avg., +/- 8.5 for the Muslim American data and +/- 7.0 for the New York City resident data.

In January 2022, More in Common launched an online community of approximately 400 Americans titled “Americans in Conversation”. We engage them in an online survey platform. From March 11-21, 2022, we asked Americans about American history. A total of N=257 US participants completed the activity, with participants roughly representative across US Census demographics such as age, gender, race, and partisanship. 

7 in 10

Americans say “Never Forget” means we should remember the families and sacrifices of first responders on and after 9/11.

8 in 10

thought that fear of terrorism and heightened security measures defined the period.  

7 in 10

Americans associated the period with Americans being united.  

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