Being the president and having the most important job in the United States of America is no simple feat. Citizens expect you to change many things in just four, or eight, short years. The entire population of the country is relying on you.
For the past eight years, the man that we have looked upon as our president was Barack Obama. On November 4, 2008, Illinois Senator Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America, and he changed history as he was the first African American to be elected to the presidential office. Eight years later, his run as president is drawing to an end, as President -elect Donald Trump moves into office. Whether you hated the Obama presidency or loved it, here are five of the many accomplishments that Obama made during his time in the Oval Office.
1. Healthcare Reform
Perhaps what would be considered the largest accomplishment of the Obama presidency was his healthcare reform. His plan, commonly known as Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), became the law in 2010. As he decreased the cost, millions of uninsured citizens were granted healthcare. More children were covered, as well as minority groups.
2. Ended the War in Iraq
On October 21, 2011, Obama announced that our troops in Iraq would be home for the holidays. Staying true to his word, the last of the troops in Iraq left the country on December 18, 2011. Finally, the war in Iraq ended under his presidency.
3. Expanded Environmental Protection
During his presidency, there has been no shortage of protection for our environment. Obama has established the world's largest ocean sanctuary, which is Hawaii's Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Institute. Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline, that would have stretched from Canada to Texas, destroying land and polluting it along the way. He signed the bipartisan ban on microbeads, which will take affect on July 1, 2017. Microbeads will become illegal, and they will no longer pollute and destroy our oceans. Lastly, Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. This plan protects millions of acres of land in multiple different states.
4. The Legalization of Same Sex Marriage
"Together, we will have moved closer to that day when no one has to be afraid to be gay in America. When no one has to fear walking down the street holding the hand of the person they love."
This quote from Obama came from his speech at the Humans Rights Campaign Dinner in October of 2011. Less than four years later, same sex marriage was legalized in the United States, on July 26, 2015. #lovewins
5. Unemployment Has Dropped
Lastly, another major accomplishment under president Obama is that the rate of unemployment has dropped. The rate dropped to 4.6 percent, which is the lowest it has been since 2007. Obama created about 15 million jobs, thus improving our economy as well.
As mentioned before, these are only a handful of the president's accomplishments. Others include assassinating Osama Bin Laden, tax cuts, and the International Climate Change Agreement. Obama will be missed by many, especially after the jaw-dropping election back in November, and as the President-elect, Trump, and Vice President, Mike Pence, prepare to take office.
Oh Lord, help us.
