This document includes introductory essays, excerpted documents, and selected bibliographies to promote a national dialogue concerning America for its Bicentennial. Bicentennial Youth Debates (BYD) is a national program developed by the Speech Communication Association and supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The nine issues into which this volume is divided and which constitute the BYD topics are the American Issues Forum monthly topics: A Nation of Nations, The Land of Plenty, Certain Unalienable Rights, A More Perfect Union: The American Government, Working in America, The Business of America, America in the World, Growing Up in America, and Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. A final section on preparing for BYD events is also included. (LL)