The Oklahoma City bombing bombing Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode April 19 , 1995 was a watershed moment in American history and indelibly changed the way Americans viewed terrorism and public safety . While the effects of the bombing are well - documented , not as much attention has been paid to the motivations of the bomber , Timothy McVeigh . He was spurred to action by the events of the Waco siege , where the FBI engaged in a 51 - day standoff standoff Conflict.Attack.Unspecified the Branch Davidians , a small religious group suspected of owning illegal weapons . However , this was not the first incident that inspired his later actions . In 1992 , the Weaver family entered into their own standoff standoff Conflict.Attack.Unspecified federal agents , after Randy Weaver failed to show up to court on illegal weapons charges . Over the course of the standoff , his wife , Vicki Weaver , and twelve - year - old son Samuel were killed killed Life.Die.Unspecified Both Waco and Ruby Ridge galvanized the far right , who saw it as the government using deadly force against their own citizens , who merely wished to live their lives as they saw fit . McVeigh was further influenced by The Turner Diaries , a novel in which the protagonist blows blows Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode a government building as a part of a revolution against the government . These three factors are analyzed in regards to the influence they had on McVeigh ’ s decision to attack attack Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode Murrah building .

The Oklahoma City bombing bombing Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode April 19 , 1995 was a watershed moment in American history and indelibly changed the way Americans viewed terrorism and public safety . While the effects of the bombing are well - documented , not as much attention has been paid to the motivations of the bomber , Timothy McVeigh . He was spurred to action by the events of the Waco siege , where the FBI engaged in a 51 - day standoff standoff Conflict.Attack.Unspecified the Branch Davidians , a small religious group suspected of owning illegal weapons . However , this was not the first incident that inspired his later actions . In 1992 , the Weaver family entered into their own standoff standoff Conflict.Attack.Unspecified federal agents , after Randy Weaver failed to show up to court on illegal weapons charges . Over the course of the standoff , his wife , Vicki Weaver , and twelve - year - old son Samuel were killed killed Life.Die.Unspecified Both Waco and Ruby Ridge galvanized the far right , who saw it as the government using deadly force against their own citizens , who merely wished to live their lives as they saw fit . McVeigh was further influenced by The Turner Diaries , a novel in which the protagonist blows blows Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode a government building as a part of a revolution against the government . These three factors are analyzed in regards to the influence they had on McVeigh ’ s decision to attack attack Conflict.Attack.DetonateExplode Murrah building .