Obama Inaugurated: First Black President Takes the Oath
Twelve years after his keynote speech electrified the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama stood on the National Mall with 1.8 million witnesses—the largest inauguration crowd in U.S. history. And he wasn't just breaking a barrier; he was shattering generations of systemic exclusion with a single oath. His grandmother, who raised him in Hawaii and had died just days before, wasn't there to see her grandson become the first Black president. But her quiet belief in education and hard work had paved his improbable path to the White House.
January 20, 2009
17 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on January 20
The Roman Empire didn't just dislike Christians—it wanted to crush them completely. Decius demanded every citizen perform a sacrifice to Roman gods, presenting …
Pope Fabian died under the sword during Emperor Decius’s systematic purge of Christians, becoming one of the first high-profile casualties of the Roman state’s …
en Europa, el rey visigodo Chindasvinto, instaura la monarquía hereditaria en Hispania al asociar al trono a su hijo Recesvinto.
King Chindasuinth crowned his son Recceswinth as co-ruler of the Visigothic Kingdom at the urging of Bishop Braulio of Zaragoza, securing a smooth dynastic succ…
le comte d'Anjou et du Maine Geoffroy Plantagenêt est intronisé comme le duc de Normandie Geoffroy V à Rouen.
Lalli, a Finnish peasant, struck down Bishop Henry on the frozen surface of Lake Köyliö after a dispute over food and hospitality. This act of violence transfor…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.