Click to play videoWashington: As Barack Obama took oath as the 44th President of the United States of America, there was a sense that change was finally here. And throughout Obama's inaugural speech, the focus was the remaking of America.
It was a historic moment on Tuesday as America's first black president took his first steps into the White House. The culmination of the African American community's campaign for equality started with Abraham Lincoln's abolishing of slavery.
Obama is the third US President from Illinois, the first was Lincoln. Fittingly, Obama swore the oath of office, with his hands on the same bible that Lincoln once used.
And like Lincoln, Obama's journey to the top has been meteoric. Just four years ago he wasn't even a senator and not the ideal candidate for presidency.
Yet he grew to be the favourite for when he spoke millions of Americans echoed in support.
In the toughest and most expensive US presidential campaign to date Obama captured the hearts of the American voter.
As the US President, Obama has his work cut out for him. He is taking over a country embroiled in war in Iraq and Afghanistan and an economy tottering under the weight of recession.
But Obama promised he would persevere.
"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations," said Obama.
His aides say Obama will take a clean break from president Georeg W Bush's approach to the war on terror.
The first step would be to come up with a plan to pull out of Iraq within 16 months.
Hopes on Obama are extremely high and Americans may be willing to give him a long rope to meet his challenges.
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