Many firsts in American history and significant policy changes may be traced back to Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. By becoming the first African American President, Obama not only broke a historic racial barrier but also ushered in a slew of progressive initiatives and led the country through the aftermath of the Great Recession.

The road to the White House began in Chicago.

Obama, born to a Kenyan father and a Kansas mother, lived in Hawaii and Indonesia as a child. After finishing law school at Harvard, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago, where he sharpened his abilities to identify and respond to local concerns. His meteoric climb through the political ranks from Illinois state senator to U.S. senator to President of the United States was unprecedented.

Important Steps Forward in Healthcare and the Economy

After taking office, Obama enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a stimulus package that injected more than $800 billion into the economy to help it recover from the Great Recession. Although the economic recovery was sluggish and uneven, his administration helped navigate the country out of the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes known as "Obamacare," is widely regarded as one of Obama's most notable legislative achievements. This historic law was controversial among conservatives, but was applauded by its proponents since it provided healthcare to millions of previously uninsured Americans.

Policy Abroad: Forging New Alliances and Preventing Future Conflicts

U.S. foreign policy changed course under Obama to prioritize diplomacy and multilateralism. He negotiated a nuclear agreement with Iran, restored diplomatic ties with Cuba, and tried to terminate U.S. military engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The American Dream, Post-Racial Style Unfulfilled

While Obama's presidency was certainly momentous, it did not usher in a post-racial America. The Black Lives Matter movement arose in response to heightened racial tensions caused by police shootings of unarmed black men. Obama tried to lead the country through difficult discussions of race by speaking openly about it.

The Influence of Desire and Alteration

For Obama, the keywords of his campaigns were "hope" and "change." His distinct background and cool attitude, mixed with his rousing speeches, struck a chord with many Americans, especially the young and those from underrepresented groups.