Barack Hussein Obama, the son of a father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, was elected the 44th President of the United States Tuesday, breaking the ultimate racial barrier to become the first African American to claim his country’s highest office.

A nation founded by slave-owners and seared by civil war and generations of racial strife delivered a smashing electoral college victory to the 47-year-old first-term Senator from Illinois, who forged a broad, multiracial, multiethnic coalition. His victory was a leap in the march toward equality: When Obama was born, people with his skin colour could not even vote in parts of America, and many were killed for trying.

“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,” Obama told more than 240,000 celebrants gathered along Chicago’s waterfront. Many had tears streaking their faces.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Obama, who strode on stage with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Sasha and Malia. “But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

Obama beat Republican John McCain in every state the Democrats carried four years ago, including Pennsylvania, which McCain had worked vigorously to pry away. Obama also made significant inroads into Republican turf, carrying Ohio, Colorado, Indiana and Virginia; the latter two voted Democratic for the first time in more than 40 years. He won the swing states of Florida, Iowa and New Mexico, which backed President George W. Bush in 2004.

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