Barack Obama
2009 - Present
Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first black president in 2009. He and his wife, Michelle, have 2 daughters, Malia and Natasha.
Helped South Sudan declare independence
In 2011, Obama appointed 2 people in South Sudan, attended a UN meeting in the area, and, through the US ambassador in South Sudan, helped negotiate the peaceful split. This move helped create the existence of a new nation and help ease tensions in the Sudan region. It helped give the U.S. a good image overseas as a nation of peace and not of war.
Eliminated Osama bin Laden
In 2011 he ordered the raid of a compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan where a large amount of Al- Qaeda documents were discovered and the terrorist was eliminated. The elimination of Osama Bin Laden helped give some foreclosure to the 9/11 attacks and made the infamous terrorist group Al- Qaeda dysfunctional. The impact on the world was that it showed everyone that the U.S. will fight terrorism wherever it is and will win.
Ended the war in Iraq
On December 18, 2011, Obama officially ordered all military forces out of the country. This ended the bloodshed and unwanted war in Iraq. It brought troops back home to their family to start normal lives again. It also helped relations between the U.S. and Iraq.
Passed the Affordable Care Act
The new law covered 32 million uninsured Americans, beginning in 2014, and started experimental measures to cut health care cost growth. This act helped improve the health insurance industry by giving millions of people health insurance. It showed the world that the U.S. was making an attempt to catch up to it's European counterparts in creating a universal health program.
Established relations with cuba
On April 11, 2015, Obama shook hands with Raul Castro and the two countries exchanged prisoners, marking the fist meeting between the US and Cuba since 1961. This event helped take the first step in reuniting families between Cuba and the U.S. and gave hope to the citizens of better relations with the island country. This event showed the world that the U.S. is willing to work with its' enemies to ease tense relations instead of making them worse.