Jobs
The newly sworn in president inherited a country facing its greatest economic trial since the Great Depression. The area in which the president succeeded most was in job growth. During the Recession the unemployment rate reached its highest point in October of 2010 at 10 percent.  Since  Obama took the reins more than 14 million jobs were added to the market and the unemployment rate currently sits at 4.9 percent. The labor force participation rate, however, is at 62.7 percent — three points lower than it was in the beginning of 2009 — and has been on a steady decline since his inauguration.
The Middle East
Obama walked into office in 2009 during a conflict in Iraq that began in 2003. Pentagon numbers would show that by October of 2009 the country suffered more than 4,300 American casualties. While the transition out of Iraq had begun under George W. Bush’s administration, Obama saw the pull out through. Also during Obama’s first term, Navy SEALS assassinated al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden.  
Since that time, however, relations in the Middle East have worsened considerably. Both the Israeli and Iranian governments have grown increasingly hostile toward the Obama administration, and in turn the U.S. government. The power vacuum left after the United States pulled out of the Middle East resulted in new powers taking control, including the Islamic State group which has continued a reign of terror throughout that region.  
Health care
On March 23, 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was put into action. Before the ACA, commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” many Americans could not receive health care due to preexisting health conditions.  According to a White House report, 62 percent of Americans found it difficult to obtain inexpensive health care. Since the ACA was enacted, six in 10 Americans receive coverage for $100 a month or less.
Despite numerous Americans receiving health coverage, insurance premiums have increased from $12,680 in 2008 to $18,142 in 2016. Because of these price increases major health insurers have begun to stop selling health insurance through the ACA, including Aetna and UnitedHealth Group, two of the largest providers.
LGBTQ issues
The 44th president was the first to openly support marriage between same-sex couples. One of the major steps toward normalizing homosexuality was the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act in 2010. The act enabled soldiers to serve in the military without having to conceal their sexuality.  
 Due in-part to his Supreme Court appointments, Obergefell v. Hodges, a 5-4 decision, guaranteed the right of marriage for same-sex couples in June of 2015.
The environment
Last year was the third year in a row to be considered the hottest year in recorded history. Since he took office, Obama has taken concrete steps toward aiding evironmental preservation efforts, including taking steps against climate change. In his first budget in 2009 the president increased the budgets for both the Land and Water Conservation fund by 38 percent and National Parks Service by 10 percent. A landmark multinational environmental agreement, the Paris Agreement was established and agreed to under the Obama administration, which will force countries hoping to participate in foreign trade to cut down significantly on their emissions and environmental impact.  
Despite his efforts to reduce carbon dioxide output and overall emissions in America, Obama failed to fully enact any major law that would cut down on America’s release of greenhouse gases, or its high rate of pollution.