🧸US History – 1945 to Present Unit 16 – Obama Presidency: Domestic & Global Issues

Key Events and Timeline

• Barack Obama elected as the 44th President of the United States in November 2008, becoming the first African American to hold the office
• Inaugurated on January 20, 2009, with the country facing significant challenges, including the Great Recession and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in February 2009, a $787 billion stimulus package aimed at reviving the economy
• Announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in February 2009, with the last combat troops leaving in August 2010
• Signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law in March 2010, reforming the U.S. healthcare system
• Ordered the military operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011
• Re-elected for a second term in November 2012, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney
• Normalized relations with Cuba in December 2014, ending decades of hostility between the two countries

Domestic Policy Initiatives

• Implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to stimulate economic growth and create jobs through investments in infrastructure, education, and clean energy
• Introduced the Making Home Affordable program to help homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure during the housing crisis
• Signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in July 2010 to increase regulation of the financial industry and protect consumers
• Launched the "Race to the Top" education initiative in 2009 to encourage states to adopt reforms and improve student outcomes
• Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act in May 2009 to protect consumers from unfair credit card practices
• Repealed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in December 2010, allowing openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to serve in the military
• Supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, which was ultimately achieved through the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Economic Challenges and Responses

• Faced the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, characterized by high unemployment, declining GDP, and a housing market crash
  • Unemployment rate peaked at 10% in October 2009
  • GDP declined by 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008
• Implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to stimulate economic growth and create jobs
  • Invested in infrastructure projects, education, and clean energy
  • Provided tax cuts and benefits to individuals and businesses
• Introduced the Making Home Affordable program to help homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure
• Signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to increase regulation of the financial industry and protect consumers
• Oversaw the bailout and restructuring of the U.S. auto industry, saving jobs and preventing the collapse of General Motors and Chrysler
• Faced criticism for the slow pace of economic recovery and persistent high unemployment throughout his first term

Healthcare Reform

• Signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, into law in March 2010
  • Aimed to expand health insurance coverage, improve healthcare quality, and reduce costs
  • Required most individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty (individual mandate)
• Key provisions of the ACA included:
  • Allowing young adults to stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26
  • Prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions
  • Establishing health insurance exchanges where individuals and small businesses could purchase coverage
  • Expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income adults
• Faced significant political opposition and legal challenges, with Republicans attempting to repeal or undermine the law
  • Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the individual mandate in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)
• Implementation of the ACA faced technical difficulties, including problems with the HealthCare.gov website during its initial rollout in 2013
• By 2016, an estimated 20 million people had gained health insurance coverage under the ACA, reducing the uninsured rate to a historic low

Foreign Policy and International Relations

• Focused on ending U.S. involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • Withdrew U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 2011
  • Increased troop levels in Afghanistan as part of a "surge" strategy before beginning a gradual withdrawal
• Authorized the military operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011
• Promoted a "pivot" or "rebalance" towards the Asia-Pacific region to counter China's growing influence
  • Strengthened alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia
  • Participated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations
• Sought to improve relations with Russia through a "reset" policy, although tensions later increased due to conflicts in Ukraine and Syria
• Negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and other world powers to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief
• Normalized relations with Cuba in December 2014, ending decades of hostility and beginning a process of diplomatic and economic engagement
• Supported multilateral efforts to combat climate change, including the Paris Agreement in 2015
• Faced criticism for his handling of the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria

Social and Cultural Developments

• Oversaw a period of significant social and cultural change, particularly in the areas of LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice
• Supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, which was ultimately achieved through the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
  • Repealed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 2010, allowing openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to serve in the military
• Addressed issues of racial inequality and police brutality, particularly in the wake of high-profile incidents such as the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner
  • Launched the "My Brother's Keeper" initiative in 2014 to address opportunity gaps faced by young men of color
• Faced criticism for his handling of racial tensions and the Black Lives Matter movement, with some arguing that he did not do enough to address systemic racism
• Promoted diversity and inclusion in his appointments, including nominating Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court
• Supported comprehensive immigration reform, although efforts to pass legislation ultimately stalled in Congress
  • Implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012 to provide temporary protection from deportation for eligible young immigrants

Environmental and Energy Policies

• Made climate change a priority of his administration, recognizing it as a major threat to the planet and future generations
  • Played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement in 2015, an international accord to limit greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change
  • Committed the U.S. to reducing its emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 under the Paris Agreement
• Implemented the Clean Power Plan in 2015, setting the first-ever national standards to reduce carbon emissions from power plants
  • Aimed to reduce power sector emissions by 32% below 2005 levels by 2030
  • Faced legal challenges and was later repealed by the Trump administration
• Promoted the development of clean energy technologies, including wind and solar power
  • Invested in renewable energy projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
  • Set a goal to double renewable electricity generation by 2020
• Introduced stricter fuel efficiency standards for vehicles to reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Required automakers to achieve an average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks by 2025
• Faced opposition from Republicans and the fossil fuel industry, who argued that his policies would harm the economy and cost jobs
• Approved the controversial Keystone XL pipeline in 2015, which was later blocked by the courts and ultimately revoked by President Biden in 2021

Legacy and Historical Impact

• Served as the first African American President of the United States, a historic milestone in the nation's journey towards racial equality
• Oversaw the country's recovery from the Great Recession, although the pace of recovery was slower than many hoped
  • Implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and other measures to stimulate economic growth and create jobs
• Achieved significant healthcare reform through the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding health insurance coverage to millions of Americans
  • Faced ongoing opposition and legal challenges to the ACA, with Republicans vowing to repeal and replace the law
• Ended U.S. combat operations in Iraq and began the process of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, although the region remained unstable
• Promoted multilateralism and diplomacy in foreign policy, seeking to improve relations with allies and engage with adversaries
  • Negotiated the Iran nuclear deal and normalized relations with Cuba
  • Faced criticism for his handling of the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS
• Supported social and cultural changes, particularly in the areas of LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice, although progress was often incremental and faced resistance
• Prioritized action on climate change, helping to negotiate the Paris Agreement and implementing domestic policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Faced opposition from Republicans and the fossil fuel industry, who sought to roll back his environmental regulations
• Left office with high approval ratings, but his legacy remains contested, with ongoing debates over the effectiveness of his policies and the extent to which he fulfilled his campaign promises of hope and change