My name is Maxwell Bowen and I will write about Barack Obama and how he made a huge difference in history. Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and became the 44th U.S. president. I chose Barack Obama as my famous American for many reasons. He is the very first African-American president, he reformed health care and ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq war.

Barack Obama is the first African-American to become president. He was born in Hawaii in 1961. His mother was a white American and his father was from Kenya. He grew up with his mothers parents in Honolulu where he graduated from high school. He earned his BA from Columbia University in 1983. In 1988 Obama joined the Harvard Law School and was elected Editor in Chief of the Harvard Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991 and went on to marry Michelle Robinson. Obama then taught law at the University of Chicago before he was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996 and re-elected in 1998 & 2002. In 2008, he become president of the United States.

 

During Barack Obama’s first term, he ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. In 2011, he ordered special forces into Pakistan which led to the death of Osama Bin Laden. During this time, he also repealed the don’t ask don’t tell act which allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly in U.S. military. Another significant event during this time was the military intervention in Libya.This led to the death of Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. In 2009, Obama nominated 2 women to serve on the supreme court.This was the first time in American history that three women held the position. Obama tackled issues like global warming and energy independence. Obama continues the process of ending U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan. 

President Obama has made significant progress in health care reform. He signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010.This act creates universal health insurance for Americans. During his first term, Obama also increased health coverage for children by signing the Childrens Health Insurance Authorization Act in 2009. Obamacare helped to provide affordable health insurance for low income people.

As part of the health care reform bill, Obama removed banks from federal student loan programs. He has also expanded stem cell research. Health care laws are believed to greatly reduce the federal defecit. Obama has shown a great concern for the social, economic and political reforms of the U.S. and its people. He has fought for equal rights for all Americans.

 And that is how Obama made a huge change in United States history. Obama continues to help America and its people. I believe that Obama has really changed history.