1. How do you think Barack Obama's mother, Anne, shaped his values from an early age? Who or what were some other early influences on his life?
2. What was Obama's family background and history? Why do you think his multiple ethnicities caused him some confusion when he was young? Is this an experience many Americans share? Discuss.
3. Why did Obama feel the study of law would help him better address some of the problems he saw while working as a community organizer in South Chicago?
4. How did Obama's trip to Kenya in 1988 help understand the connection he had with his father?
5. Why was Obama's election as president of the Harvard Law Review a significant event in his life? How do you think his election to this role influenced his career decisions?
6. What hard political lessons did Obama learn as a state senator and during his campaign for Congress in 2000? Why do you think he decided to continue to pursue a career in politics despite the challenges he faced?
7. Political commentator Cokie Roberts observed that in politics "You're better off being lucky than smart and Barack Obama seemed to be both." How did Obama's run for the U.S. Senate and his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention seem to prove this?
8. What were some of the reasons Obama felt the time was right to run for President in the 2008 election? What were some of the arguments people made for and against this decision? What were the risks?
9. What are some specific examples of how the Obama was able to build a successful presidential campaign? What role did his campaign's use of new technology play in his success?
10. How, in different ways, did the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries prove pivotal in Obama's quest to obtain the Democratic Party's presidential nomination?
11. In your view, what did Barack Obama bring to the presidential campaign that overshadowed his opponents? What do you think will be his key political achievements and challenges as President?

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."
- President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address [excerpt],
January 20th, 2009

1. What do you think Obama means when he calls certain values "the quiet force of progress"? Which of these values do you think are most important, and why?
2. President Obama noted that Americans faced a "new era of responsibility." Why do you think his words and vision have connected with so many Americans during this era?
3. Obama was elected in 2008; how do you think people will explain this time period 100 years from now? How do you think this time period is similar to or different from other eras in American history?

1. The Power of Words
   President Obama, like many influential leaders, has been praised for his effective speeches and writings. Online or at the library, ask students to locate a passage from one of his books or speeches that they find meaningful. Then, ask students to write a short 1-2 page paper describing this passage, the context in which it was written, and why they think it is a significant selection from Obama's words or writings.
2. Dear Mr. President
   This documentary describes the connection many Americans feel to President Obama and the priorities he has set for the United States. Ask students to imagine they were able to interview President Obama. What are five key questions they would ask him, and why? Have students write up these questions and an explanation in a short paper. Alternately, ask students to write a letter to Obama or another world leader describing an issue of importance to them.
3. A Call to Serve
   Stemming from his personal commitment to service, President Obama has asked all Americans who are able to contribute to our civic culture through service and volunteering. The website www.serve.gov has been established to allow Americans to search for volunteer opportunities and share information about the work they are doing. Ask students to visit this site and start by reading the Fact Statement about the effort. Then, ask students to choose an organization or issue that is important to them. Students can explore volunteer opportunities in their area and get involved. For a one-class activity, ask students to write an op-ed about an issue of their choice, or to design a poster or PSA based on this issue.