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The American People in the Obama Years: A Decade of Change and Progress

Morris Carter

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Published in Ten Letters: The American People In The Obama Years

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The Obama years were a time of great change and progress for the American people. The economy recovered from the Great Recession, the Affordable Care Act expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, and the country made significant progress on climate change. These changes had a profound impact on the lives of Americans, and they will continue to shape the country for years to come.

Ten Letters: The American People in the Obama Years

by Eli Saslow

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Economy

The Obama years saw a significant recovery from the Great Recession. The unemployment rate fell from 10% in October 2009 to 4.7% in December 2016. The stock market also rebounded, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising from 6,547.05 on March 5, 2009, to 19,827.25 on January 20, 2017. These economic gains led to increased consumer spending and business investment, which helped to fuel the recovery.

The Obama administration also took a number of steps to help the economy recover. These steps included:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provided $787 billion in stimulus spending.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which reformed the financial industry and created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP),which provided financial assistance to banks and other financial institutions.

These measures helped to stabilize the economy and lay the foundation for a recovery.

The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA),also known as Obamacare, was a landmark piece of legislation that expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. The ACA was signed into law by President Obama in 2010, and it has since become one of the most important and controversial pieces of legislation in recent history.

The ACA has had a number of positive impacts on the lives of Americans. For example, the ACA has:

Expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions.
Provided tax credits to help people afford health insurance.
Reduced the number of uninsured Americans by millions.

The ACA has also been controversial, and there have been a number of legal challenges to the law. However, the ACA has survived these challenges, and it is now considered to be a major part of the American health care system.

Climate Change

The Obama administration made significant progress on climate change. In 2015, the United States joined the Paris Agreement, a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Obama administration also worked to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution.

The Obama administration's efforts on climate change have had a number of positive impacts. For example, the United States has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10% since 2005. The Obama administration's efforts have also helped to promote the development of clean energy technologies.

Ten Letters: The American People in the Obama Years

by Eli Saslow

4.1 out of 5