10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube [VIDEOS]

YouTube isn’t just for kittens, cute kids, and confabulating celebrities. It’s also home to some of the most inspiring moments from history ever captured on camera. Here, we’ve selected 10 videos highlighting some of the most amazing scenes that can be witnessed on-demand through the world’s most popular online video platform. Ranging from silent footage from the early 1900s to modern digital video capture, these clips vary dramatically from political to sporting to scientific achievements. They all have one thing in common — a strong message of inspiration. 1. The Fall of the Berlin Wall The fall of the Berlin Wall changed Europe politically and the German city physically. Ushering in a new era of freedom for a new decade, this footage from 1989 offers powerful imagery of East and West reuniting after nearly 40 years of enforced separation. 2. The Moon Landing We never get tired of watching this amazing clip. The 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon was a remarkable achievement for all of mankind, and its morale-boosting effects on the United States at the time of the Cold War can’t be underestimated. 3. Tiananmen Square Protests The anonymous “Tank Man” of this heart-stopping footage has never been identified, but the sight of him, unarmed, planted firmly in front of a line of tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989 has become an enduring symbol of amazing courage. 4. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech It may have been a while since you last heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech in full, rather than just the highlights. Despite social change since 1963, there are still wider lessons to be drawn from the civil rights hero’s historic words. 5. Professor Stephen Hawking’s Zero-Gravity Flight Not letting his ALS condition get in the way of a glittering academic career, Stephen Hawking is one of the most inspiring humans alive today. Here, at age 65, he experiences zero-gravity to help increase public interest in space exploration. 6. Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics You could argue that America’s first blow against Nazi Germany in the Second World War came in 1936, as African-American Jesse Owens, the grandson of a slave, competed in the Berlin Olympics. In the midst of Nazi propaganda about “Aryan superiority,” Owens discredited Hitler’s hideous racial assertions and came away with four gold medals. 7. Wright Brothers We take flying for granted now, but this clip gives us a glimpse of how remarkable sustained mechanical flight was, as the Wright Brothers strove to achieve what many considered absolutely impossible. 8. President-Elect Barack Obama’s Victory Speech Although President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech is the one that will be quoted and referenced in years to come, we think his victory speech from Grant Park in his home town of Chicago best captures the electric excitement, and historic magnitude of his election into office. 9. Roger Bannister Breaks the Four-Minute Mile Although by today’s standards, Bannister’s physical achievement is not that impressive, what doesn’t diminish over time is how inspiring his dedication and ultimate success is. Bannister broke the four-minute mile through sheer determination. When asked how he reached his goal, he explained, “It’s the ability to take more out of yourself than you’ve got.” 10. Gandhi’s Dandi Salt March This incredible footage from 1930 shows a 61-year-old Gandhi on the famous Dandi March, in which he and his followers challenged British authority by protesting a salt tax with a peaceful 240-mile procession. The march was a seminal moment in the “Civil Disobedience Movement,” a very influential non-violent initiative that would eventually lead to Indian independence from British rule. More Web Video Resources from Mashable: – 10 Super Social Media Songs [VIDEOS] – 10 Best “Worst” Infomercials on YouTube [VIDEOS] – The 10 Most Innovative Viral Video Ads of 2009 – 5 Best YouTube Sports Moments of 2009 – Top 10 Video Sharing Sites Judged by Mashable Readers More About: List , Lists , video , videos , web video , youtube For more Web Video coverage: Follow Mashable Web Video on Twitter Become a Fan on Facebook Subscribe to the Web Video channel Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

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10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube [VIDEOS]