In 2005, FRONTLINE/World featured the PlayPump, a promising new technology that pumped fresh water when children played on a merry-go-round. The story appealed to the good intentions of politicians, celebrities, and funders, who gave support to installing thousands of these devices in Africa. In this video, reporter Amy Costello continues her investigation into what happened to those communities as the promise of the PlayPump fell short, villages were left with non-working PlayPumps for months, and the device's biggest American boosters began to back away from a technology they had once championed. [23:42]

Listen as Jacqueline Novogratz discusses investing in sustainable small business solutions for the world's poor. The goal, says Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, is to find a way to bring essential services to low income people not just today but in a way that's sustainable over time.

A secondary account from a contemporary historian that examines early nineteenth century forces and the interplay of markets and territorial expansion.

A collection of eight primary resources--historical documents, literary texts, visual images, maps--illuminated and contextualized by notes, thematic questions, and text-specific discussion questions for classroom instruction and teacher professional development.

Magazine excerpts that celebrate the government sponsored internal improvements of the early nineteenth century and the market economy that they fueled.

Three essays from the famous French visitor to America, Alexis de Tocqueville, in which he examines how religion in early nineteenth century America supported democratic tendencies.

When girls are allowed to go to school, they have a significant impact on their family and community. Students learn and think critically about the variety of reasons why it is in everyone's best interest to ensure that all girls, across the globe, have access to an education.

In reading and discussing Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, students examine basic economic concepts and explore the growth of labor unions and the role of government in a market economy.