Barack Obama took office during the Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. In February 2009 he signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Denver.
The law, estimated at about $787 billion when passed, included tax cuts, aid to states, unemployment benefits, and spending on roads, bridges, energy, and research.
The Debate
Supporters credited the act with saving jobs and shortening the recession, while critics argued it added too much to the national debt. Economists continue to study its effects.
Did You Know
The government launched the Recovery.gov website so the public could track where the money went.
Learn More
For primary sources, explore the Obama White House archives maintained by the National Archives, the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and presidential history collections at your local library. Reading accounts from supporters and critics alike gives the fullest picture of any presidency.
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