Final answer:
Several governmental actions have significantly changed how the U.S. government affects American lives, including civil rights legislation, healthcare reforms, and social welfare programs under the Great Society initiative.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the history of the United States, various governmental policies and significant events have reshaped the way government influences American lives. The March on Washington in 1963, for example, was instrumental in pushing for the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act which changed federal law and societal norms regarding civil liberties and voting.
Additionally, President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) aimed to overhaul the country's healthcare system and ensure that all Americans had access to health insurance, highlighting a significant intervention by the government into the health sector.
The economic policies during President Johnson's Great Society brought forth lasting changes with programs designed to eradicate poverty and racial injustice. Each of these actions, along with others not specifically mentioned here, has contributed significantly to altering how the U.S. government affects the daily lives of its citizens.