The World's Best Book Summaries
How did President Obama approach the United States’ relationship with China? Sino-American relations were traditionally tense. But for President Obama, China was an opportunity to improve relations and trade. Read more about President Obama, China, and his goals.
Where did the Yes We Can slogan come from? Why was it so effective for Barack Obama’s campaign? The Yes We Can slogan was used all the way back in Obama’s campaign for U.S. Senate. He wanted to inspire people to come together and believe in change. Read more about the Yes We Can slogan below.
When was the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell?” What was that policy and why did President Obama repeal it? The repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” happened in 2010 during the lame-duck session. This repeal meant that LGBTQ Americans could serve openly in the armed forces. Read more about the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” below.
How did Michelle and Barack meet? How long have the Obamas been together? Michelle and Barack Obama met in Chicago. He was interning at a law firm, and she was an associate. The two quickly became friends and began a relationship. Read more about how Michelle and Barack met and how they pursued their goals together.
What was the Obama Cairo speech about? Why did Obama give this speech and what were its effects? The Obama Cairo speech was delivered at Cairo University. The speech touched on human rights, religious tolerance and more. Read more about Obama, the Cairo speech, and what it meant.
How does changing a constitution work? Why is constitutional hardball a tactic of authoritarians? Changing a constitution is often used by authoritarians as a way to maximize their influence and gain more personal power. There are several examples in history of authoritarians using constitutional hardball to get their way. Read more about changing a constitution and what it means.
Who were the cabinet members during the first Obama Administration? Why did he choose them? Obama’s cabinet members were chosen carefully by Obama and his staff. Amongst others, Obama had to select a chief of staff, secretary of the treasury, and secretary of state. Read more about the Obama cabinet members and how they chose him.
What was the 2009 auto bailout? Who benefited from it and why did it happen? The 2008 financial crisis his the auto industry particularly hard. Chrysler and General Motors were struggling and needed assistance, which became known as the 2009 auto bailout. Read more about the 2009 auto bailout and what the government did.
Who was the frozen food inventor? How did the invention of frozen food change agriculture and the fast food industry? J.R. Simplot wasn’t exactly the frozen food inventor, but he did make one of the most groundbreaking products of the frozen food revolution. With his frozen french fry, Simplot made it easier for fast food companies to get the products they needed at a cheap price. Read more about the “frozen food inventor” and the frozen potato.
What are checks and balances in the U.S. government? Are they effective? Checks and balances in the U.S. government is a system intended to prevent authoritarianism by distributing power equally. Each branch has its own norms and means of operating. Read more about checks and balances in the U.S. government and what they do.