terrorism September 11 attacks war on terror Afghanistan Iraq abortion access same-sex marriage mass shootings police brutality lingering institutional racism climate change policy media bias immigration political polarization attack on the United States Capitol of January 6, 2021 peaceful transition of power Joseph Biden Supreme Court's ruling on abortion rights political President military
In the first decades of the 21st century, the U.S. faced challenges from terrorism, with the September 11 attacks leading to the war on terror and military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. also faced social debates on issues such as abortion access, same-sex marriage, mass shootings, police brutality, lingering institutional racism, climate change policy, media bias and immigration that brought significant policy changes and political polarization. The attack on the United States Capitol of January 6, 2021 attempting to prevent the peaceful transition of power to President Joseph Biden and the Supreme Court's ruling on abortion rights in 2022 further fueled protests and political divisions.
