Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1961, he was a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, Illinois state senator, and U.S. senator from Illinois.
A Democrat, Obama was the first African American president, winning elections in 2008 and 2012.
Key Moments
He took office during the Great Recession and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010. In 2011 U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, and his administration joined the Paris climate agreement.
Did You Know
Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, his first year in office. His presidential center opened in Chicago’s Jackson Park in 2026.
Save this pin to your American history board and share it with a fellow history lover. Have a favorite fact about this president? Pin it next to this one.