By Darcelle Lindor
During his eight-year presidency, Barak Obama shattered barriers with his relentless determination to create a better society for the American people. He said farewell in a final speech on January 18, 2016, as he spent his last days as president of the United States.
Through the years as a world leader, he created various opportunities and changed many lives. When obstacles blocked his path, he continued to push forward for the betterment of the country.
Just days ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, he encouraged positivity- assuring American’s that they would be all right under the new president’s administration. He proclaimed “I believe in this country. I believe in the American people.” President Obama made it his mission to make America a stronger nation and has had a number of achievements during his historical run as president.
Reviving the economy
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Obama always stressed the importance of providing more jobs for people, and following a destructive recession, tackled this issue throughout his eight-year term.[/su_pullquote]
Obama always stressed the importance of providing more jobs for people, and following a destructive recession, tackled this issue throughout his eight-year term. He played a key role in putting many Americans back into the workforce. After 2010, he has created fifteen million more private sector jobs and just last years, it was reported that the unemployment rate dropped since 2009 from 10 percent to 4.6 percent. Obama had also tremendously impacted the auto industry after providing GM and Chrysler with loans and improving the company’s regulation standards to be stronger competitors against other notable firms. As a result, 1.5 million jobs were saved.
Universal health insurance
Health care is the main cause of the fiscal problems Americans struggle with. After presidents before him failed to reform health care to aid all citizens, Barack Obama passed the affordable care act in 2010. Many Republican members had originally disagreed with the act, but the reform has given health care coverage to about twenty million people. Four percent of people were even given health care for the first time after the Affordable Act was passed. The law protected citizens by limiting the amount of money the elderly and sick can be charged and required insurers to give coverage to already ill patients.
Breaking barriers in foreign relations
Former U.S. President Barack Obama wipes away a tear as he delivers a farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago | Photo Courtesy: Indian ExpressBarack Obama had a lot of success with foreign relations. Cuba and the United States were at odds for over fifty years, but during his presidency, Obama helped restore diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2015. And toward the end of his presidency, he continued working to restore economic relations and accepted a package with new regulations that would expand humanitarian, scientific, commercial and trade possibilities between Cuba and the U.S.
War against terrorism
[su_pullquote align=”right”]2011 was an impactful year for Obama after he led Special Forces to Osama Bin Laden’s secret compound in Pakistan, where he was killed and a slew of important Al-Qaeda documents was found.[/su_pullquote]
2011 was an impactful year for Obama after he led Special Forces to Osama Bin Laden’s secret compound in Pakistan, where he was killed and a slew of important Al-Qaeda documents was found. Laden was behind the 1998 attack on the Kenyan and Tanzanian U.S. embassies and the September 11th bombing that took the lives of nearly three thousand innocent women, men, and children. Obama’s well-executed plan to eliminate a prominent terrorist leader has saved not only American lives but lives all around the globe.
Barack Obama has left a legacy of accomplishments that aided America and the world. Through the backlash and criticism of his decisions and policies, he never gave up on the people. He put his focus on strengthening America and opening new doors for the citizens. He strived to create a society that is beneficial and just for all people. Obama has left the country in stronger shape than how it was before. He addressed and overcame a string of issues that was hurting America in the span of eight years.
Featured Image Credits: NBC
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