History Today: US declares the 'global war on terror' after the 9/11 attacks

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the course of American history shifted dramatically, just nine days later, on September 20, 2001, President George W Bush stood before Congress and the nation to declare what became known as the War on Terror.

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It was also a big day in the world of Tennis. On this day in 1973, Billie Jean King triumphed over Bobby Riggs in the legendary “Battle of the Sexes” match.

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And if cinema is where your interest lies, September 20, 1946, marks another milestone: the opening of the first-ever Cannes Film Festival, which would eventually grow into the world’s most prestigious stage for international cinema.

Here’s a closer look at all that unfolded on this day in history.

US declares war on terror

On the evening of September 20, 2001, President George W Bush addressed a joint session of Congress and the American public.

In his address, he declared that the United States was now at war, not against a nation, but against “a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them.”

Calling the nation “a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom,” he pledged, “Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

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This declaration launched what would formally become the Global War on Terror, an international, American-led military campaign initiated in response to the 9/11 attacks launched by al-Qaeda the previous week that claimed around 3,000 lives.

In succession, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution authorising the president “to use all necessary and appropriate force” against those responsible for the attacks, with unanimous support in the Senate (98–0) and rapid approval in the House.

Over the days and weeks that followed, Bush’s administration marshalled diplomatic, financial, and military resources to disrupt terrorist networks. The later invasions of Afghanistan (October 2001) and Iraq (2003) became defining operations within the “Bush doctrine”.

Billie Jean triumphs ‘Battle of the Sexes’

On September 20, 1973, in the Houston Astrodome, Billie Jean King, then 29, faced off against 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a former world number 1 who proclaimed the women’s game so inferior that even he at his age could beat top women players.

The event, sensationalised and widely televised, became known as the “ Battle of the Sexes.” An estimated 90 million viewers worldwide tuned in, including some 50 million in the US, making it one of the most-watched sporting events of the era.

King made a Cleopatra-style entrance on a gold litter carried by men, while Riggs arrived in a rickshaw pulled by female models. She delivered a decisive victory in straight sets: 6–4, 6–3, 6–3, taking home $100,000 and, more importantly, an immense cultural win.  

King herself later reflected on the stakes, “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match. It would ruin the women’s [tennis] tour and affect all women’s self-esteem."

In 1972, King became the first woman to be chosen as Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsperson of the Year”, and in 1973, she became the first president of the Women’s Tennis Association. King also established a sports foundation and magazine for women and a team tennis league.

The “mother of modern sports” retired from tennis with 39 Grand Slam career titles. She remained active as a coach, commentator and advocate for women’s sports and other causes.

Cannes Film Festival makes debut

The festival that would become Cannes had its origins in 1939, conceived as a democratic and apolitical alternative to the fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

Plans were set for a September 1–20, 1939, debut, but the outbreak of World War II interrupted those plans, cancelling the inaugural event after only one private screening

At long last, on September 20, 1946, the First Cannes International Film Festival officially opened at the former Casino of Cannes, running through October 5. A total of 21 countries participated in the selection, many of the films reflecting post-war realities.

Despite technical setbacks, film reels projected in reverse or upside down, tarpaulin covers blown away by storms, the festival marked a symbolic return to international cultural dialogue.

Presided over by French historian Georges Huisman, the jury comprised one representative from each participating country.

The top prize, the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film, was awarded to 11 different films in a tie and has since been replaced by the Palme d’Or.