On June 3 , 2008 , Barack Obama received enough delegates by the end of state primaries to be the presumptive Democratic Party of the United States nominee . On August 28 , 2008 , at the 2008 Democratic National Convention , in a stadium filled with supporters , Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States . Obama was elected 44th President of the United States of America on November 4 , 2008 , opening his victory speech with , " If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible ; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time ; who still questions the power of our democracy , tonight is your answer . " On January 20 , 2009 , Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States , the first African American to become president . Former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele , an African American , was elected as Chairman of the Republican National Committee on January 30 , 2009
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
Post–civil rights era in African-American history