Running Head: CONSPIRACY THEORIES 1

Conspiracy Theories: Whats Your View?

Summer Rockett
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
CONSPIRACY THEORIES 2

Differentiating Opinions
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term conspiracy theory first
came about in a 1909 article in the American Historical Review. This once neutral term
that is now deemed derogatory by society is most closely defined as a proposition that
accuses a person, group, or organization of having carefully planned, executed, or
covered up an illegal or harmful event (Proffitt, 1989). Believers of this nature, known as
conspiracists, strive to bring evidence of doubt in to the public opinion through their
research of deeper background information regarding such events. Typically it is up to
the viewer to believe whether or not the proposed evidence is taking place, however;
some theories in the past have been proven true, for example: President Richard Nixons
administration covering up the Watergate scandal.
Conspiracy theories have long been a part of American political culture and mass
public opinion. Conspiracy theories range from the attack on September 11
th
, to the 2010
BP oil spill, however; there is no research to support a widely accepted conspiracy
theory. In a recent study by Stempel et al. (2007), nearly a third of American
respondents agreed that federal officials either assisted in the attacks of September 11th
or did nothing to stop them in order to go to war in the Middle East. (Oliver & Wood,
2012) Further analysis of this statistic underscores the importance that individuals have
their own opinions on the matter, or, at least, choose to believe certain parts of any
conspiracy theory while disregarding other information.
Conspiracy theories are typically characterized by three distinct characteristics:
they attribute phenomena to greater forces, take stance on the battle of good vs. evil, and
claim that tragic events are used to distract society from said greater forces (Fenster,
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2009). Americans demonstrate a high distrust of their government, information relayed
through the media, and other elite political figures. Within the contents of this paper
multiple perspectives will be synthesized regarding economic, geographic, political, and
historic views relevant to conspiracy theories based on the presence during these events.
Economic Perspective
Many conspiracy theories regarding Americas economy have surfaced over the years. A
few that circulate in the current day are:
Oil companies deliberately concealing superior car technology that would decrease the
amount of oil necessary to operate a vehicle
The Federal Reserve intentionally causing inflation and recessions for personal gain.
Big businesses and politicians attempting to increase the amount of inmates in federal
prison in order to make a profit.
Although America appears to be in debt and severely struggling, a massive amount of
wealth that is being hidden from the public eye.
(List of Conspiracy Theories, 2014).
There is some evidence to support the validity of some of the above theories. Regardless
of whether or not any evidence is present, these theories still have a heavy impact on societys
view of our ever-changing world. Individual opinion on the truth of these theories is relevant
based on the support received from our society. Regardless of the way someone chooses to view
the matter, it is important to do the research and have all of the background information possible
to make informed, rational decisions, as these matters affect everyones wallets.
Geographic Perspective
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Thus far, this paper has methodically discussed conspiracy theories that have developed from
events that took place in the United States. However, there have been several events that have
happened in other countries that American conspiracists have researched, as well. There is an
equal amount of debate on these events as they are just as controversial as the ones that have
happened within the U.S. Some theories even receive far greater scrutiny from Americans as
compared to those who live in another country possibly even where the event took place.
One of the largest theories to mention is the complete denial of the Holocaust, which was
a German invasion. There are a few conspiracies that make up this theory as a whole. First,
conspiracists contend that while there was a mass amount of genocide, there were no official
Nazi police assigned to murder Jews. Second, they believe that no gas chambers were present to
perform genocide. They deny the existence of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where over 1 million Jews
were said to be murdered. Finally, they believe that the death toll was well below 6 million.
Conspiracists claim the numbers were anywhere between 300,000 and 1.5 million people
(Mathis, 2003). None of the efforts put forth by conspiracists regarding this event have had any
implications on the historiography behind this matter. Nonetheless, it is still important to know
that varying viewpoints such as these have been formed by Americans, as well as members of
other nations, about events that occurred in countries outside of the U.S.
Political Perspective
As previously mentioned in this paper, President Nixons administration was found guilty
of conspiring to conceal the Watergate Scandal. This major event has had an undeniable impact
in the trustworthiness of political figures that lead this country, whether viewed as positive or
negative. Political figures are already under enough scrutiny as it is by constantly being managed
by the public eye, also, by their political affiliations. When a major event happens while a
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president is in term, there are bound to be fingers pointed at him regarding his involvement in the
situation. Some major conspiracy theories that exist involving major and elite political figures
are as follows:
President Roosevelt knowing about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance and allowing it to
occur.
John F. Kennedys assassination was premeditated
President Bush deliberately lied to the U.S. following the attacks on 9/11 in order to get
support to invade Iraq
Obamas whereabouts on the day of the Sandy Hook massacre
(List of Conspiracy Theories 2014).
Historic Perspective
There is no doubt that all of the above mentioned events have had a significant impact on
the historic progression of the United States. Any event mentioned in this paper, whether skewed
by conspiracists or not, has happened over the course of history. As the author of this paper, I act
as a primary source to an event that I have lived through that has had the biggest infliction on the
history of my life - the attack on September 11
th
. Although I was only in third grade when this
event took place, I remember that day as clearly as if it were yesterday. Knowing what I know
from living through the occurrence of the event all the way up to the aftermath that is still
coming about today, it is baffling to research the conspiracy theories that exist revolving the
attack. After watching an interview of a man named Barry Jennings who speaks about his
personal experience of what happened that day, I have an altered perspective of the events that
took place that day.
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Barry worked on the 23
rd
floor of the World Trade Center building 7 as an Emergency
Coordinator. He was called the day of the attack soon after the first plane hit and when he arrived
at the office of Emergency Management there was no one present. He called several individuals
that he worked with who then told him he needed to evacuate immediately. He proceeded to the
stairwell and as he was passing the 6
th
floor, the landing that he was standing on gave way due to
an explosion from underneath him. He claims that this was well before the towers collapsed. He
also claims that while he was trapped in the building before they collapsed, there were several
more explosions that occurred around him even after the towers collapsed. He states his
confusion as to why there were any explosions in the first place and as to why the buildings
collapsed from the ground up if they were hit from the top. Two days before the interview was
released to the public, Barry mysteriously died. The information that Barry provided led
conspiracists to believe that the government planted explosions in the World Trade Center prior
to the attack. It has also led conspiracists to believe that anyone living from this event who
testifies against information presented by the media or questions events from the day is disposed
of by the government (Avery, 2008).
Conclusion
In summary, this paper does not serve to make a stance on a viewpoint of what happened
during these events. This paper serves to bring these conspiracy theories to light in multiple
perspectives so that citizens may make an informed, unbiased opinion on what they believe
actually happened. This paper also serves to help citizens understand that further research on any
topic is necessary; citizens should not rely solely on what they see on the news, but on their own
understanding. There is always more to something than meets the eye and it is up to the beholder
to do the research, know the facts, and stand by their beliefs.
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References
Avery, Dylan (2008, August 21). Barry Jennings Account of WTC7 Explosions. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbbZE7c3a8Q
Fenster, Mark. 1999. Conspiracy Theories: Secrecy and Power in American Culture.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
List of conspiracy theories. (2014). RationalWiki.
Mathis, A. (2003). Holocaust Denial, A Definition. In Conspiracy Theories in American History
(pp. 321-324).
Oliver, J. Eric, Wood, Thomas J. (2012). Conspiracy Theories, Magical Thinking, and the
Paranoid Style(s) of Mass Opinion. The University of Chicago.
Proffitt, M. (1989). . In The Oxford English Dictionary (Vol. 1, p. 3498). United Kingdom:
Oxford University Press.