Committing acts of violence against others for political purposes can be traced throughout history. With the growth of the mass media in the 20th century, however, the impact of violent terrorist acts can be spread around the globe instantaneously. No longer does a bombing or killing affect a single city or country. Moreover, the devastating terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001, suggest that the West has entered a new stage in history. Terrorism discusses the first violent, political attacks in U.S. history and tracks the evolution of terrorism from the early anarchist movement in the 1920s to the modern-day conflicts in the Middle East. This book connects the crucial people, movements, events, and groups that have shaped modern terrorism, including the Taliban, al Qaeda, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Unabomber, and many more.