To explore America's past in a meaningful way, a growing number of educators strive for spirited debate and passionate discussion in their classrooms. The key is get students talking about historical events with the same energy and immediacy that today's topics provoke. But accomplishing that is virtually impossible without the right catalyst. This collection of 25 concise video clips is designed to spark thoughtful, productive dialogue on major turning points in U.S. history. Each clip lays out two opposing viewpoints, framing a complex historical episode as if it were a debatable "issue" - just as citizens of the time might have thought and argued about it. In some cases, such as the segments on Jamestown or the Salem witch trials, the debate echoes scholarly disagreements that exist today. Other clips relate directly to hot-button issues our society still wrestles with, such as the role of unions or the teaching of evolution - while a handful of equally powerful segments resurrects arguments that were decided long ago, so that students can freely explore their causes and contexts. Each clip has a run time of approximately 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Topics include: Columbus's Voyages to the New World, Transatlantic Slave Trade, Jamestown Settlemen, Salem Witch Trials, Slavery and the American Revolution, Constitutional Convention, Indian Removal, Amistad Revolt, Mexican-American War, Secession of the Southern States, Reconstruction, Rise of Organized Labor, Chinese Exclusion Act, Spanish-American War, Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902, League of Nations, Scopes Trial, New Deal, Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Brown v. Board of Education, Cuban Missile Crisis, Space Race, Feminist Movement, DDT Ban, Afghanistan War.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., recounts 500 years of African-American history in a six-part series for PBS called Many Rivers to Cross. Gwen Ifill sits down with Gates, a Harvard University professor, to discuss the journey of black Americans who created hope and persistence in the face of brutal discrimination.

They have made a difference and revolutionized the world. They come from all walks of life and from all corners of the globe. These remarkable individuals have pioneered, developed and forever improved their industry and the world in which we live. Engaging and relevant, these individuals will change the way you view the world, and remind you that it only takes one person to make a difference. In this episode, learn about pioneers of space exploration. This episode features Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Che Guevara.