Occupy Wall Street started on September 17, 2011, in New York City's Zuccotti Park but quickly spread everywhere. People were upset about the rich getting richer and corporations having too much power in politics. It was mainly about, “Wealth distribution between the wealthy 1% and everyone else in the 99%” (Occupy Wall Street). They were all about fighting economic inequality and corporate greed. However, Occupy Wall Street had problems staying organized and dealing with cops breaking things up. Some Americans thought Occupy Wall Street was positive, standing up for the poorer people in the country, but others thought it was a mess with no clear goals. Still, it got everyone talking about money and power in America, which was necessary for activism.

The Tea Party movement began in 2009, it was started by concerns over government intervention and spending. “Rick Santelli … On February 19, 2009, he delivered a televised "rant-heard-round-the-world"... in which he mockingly denounced Obama's Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan and called for a modern-day Chicago Tea Party, evoking the pre-Revolutionary-era rhetoric of the Boston Tea Party that would become a hallmark of the movement.” (Andersen, Ashley). This happened after the financial crisis and President Obama's election. Americans were frustrated towards the government. There were many debates about the role of government, healthcare, and taxes.

The Obama era has made a huge impact on America today, it has shaped the social and political parts of America in significant ways. One outcome of this period was the Occupy Wall Street movement, which spotlighted economic inequality and an influence on politics. The movement had “about 2,000 people marching in New York's Financial District” (Raichelle, Allen). Although Occupy Wall Street might not be thought about as much today, its ideals continue to be heard, like in recent protests against racial injustice and income inequality, like the tragic event of the death of George Floyd. This created the Black Lives Matter protests which were huge gatherings. These protests from today have similar ideas from Occupy Wall Street which might make them similar. We see the Obama era in the present day with people talking about healthcare, racism, and economics in general.

The Obama era influenced both political and societal norms. One significant outcome of this period was the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party Movement impacted conservatives who felt frustrated by what they saw as government overreach and concerns about different policies. The Tea Party movement is still seen in some recent political developments and other problems like healthcare and taxes. “The survival of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, a major reform of the nation's health care system enacted in 2010 that had angered conservative Republicans” (Ciment, James). The movement shows that limited government and individual freedoms continue to make conservative ideologies and activism have an increase. This would keep the legacy of the Obama era in present-day America.