Carl Creasman

The full year of 2026 is the semiquincentennial celebration, and as such the lectures at ⁨@WinterParkLibrary⁩ continue the focus. The Articles of Confederation were the nation's first set of governing documents, our first constitution. The work on this began in the exact same days of June 1776 as the Declaration, led by Pennsylvanian John Dickinson. Dickinson, as you may remember from our July 2026 lecture on the Declaration (https://youtu.be/iV_Xh0NFST0), Dickinson was the lead opponent of that decision. Yet, the other representatives believed he would do best in the writing of our needed governing principles. Hope you will enjoy our look at how Dickinson puts forward the first draft, that Congress then debates for over a year into late 1777. At the end, comparison comes to our second governing document, the Constitution, which led to a question about that. You can go back a year to my Sept 2025 lecture, "USA Constitution Examined" (https://youtu.be/UNmqQNN3qP8) for an in-depth study on the second governing set of rules. #articlesofconfederation #johndickinson #semiquincentennial #america250 #constitution #usconstitution
The Articles of Confederation Examined
When I started planning for the @WinterParkLibrary "Past Meets Present" celebration of America250, I dreamed of this moment. For our July session, I wanted the assembled crowd to read the Declaration of Independence aloud, as a group; individual voices from many ethnicities, ages, backgrounds, beliefs...all assembled to celebrate this great document. I had worried if I could pull off the timing for it all, wanting to give appropriate context and yet having enough time for the reading. I knew we would have different reading abilities, and the 18th century document had vocabulary that we rarely speak today. We did it! And the experience was amazing. I hope you enjoy hearing, also, the many voices of the Republic read out this seminal document. While the entire year is all about the celebration, with more to come August-December, the last few sessions had all been pointing to this moment. In March we examined the role of John Adams (https://youtu.be/JG_0o6dN2xY), then in April I taught on "The Road to the Revolution" which examined a step-by-step journey up to 1774 (https://youtu.be/zyAXvK3Qp00). In June we then used the life of Thomas Jefferson to get us right up to the spring of 1776 (https://youtu.be/vy5Ez7EBO_Q). I encourage you to watch all three of those to gain more context. Those sessions led to July and this moment. The Declaration is, at least, two different things. It is certainly the document that does, as described, list out what the Founders believed to be crucial evidence in support of their decision to rebel. But deeper still, the Declaration became an aspirational document, certainly in its preamble and closing statement, about what the Founders (all the men and women of those fateful years) believed and hoped. They, and the actual experience, was flawed. It has never fully accomplished what it set out or stated. Many have been disappointed, both in the journey and in their lived experience. And yet, this document and these humans launched an experiment that has been mimicked and modeled for 250 years. So listen afresh to these words...all of them...and then take up the task, now 250 years later, to continue on the journey.
Declaration of Independence Examined
July 5, 2026 I had the honor to share about "Why the Declaration of Independence Matters" to Encounter Christian Church. We dug into the creation of the document itself and then spent time considering aspects of the writing.
Why the Declaration of Independence Matters
Continuing our 2026 America250 focus, the next "Past Meets Present" at @WinterParkLibrary dove into the life of Thomas Jefferson. As with all of the talks for 2026, the focus is on the relationship to the semiquincentennial. Meaning, while many of my frequent listeners know of my dislike and distaste for Jefferson; to be slightly hyperbolic, he does not deserve a temple of honor in DC. This is NOT that talk, an examination of why I don't like him. Rather, we spent this lecture in examining Jefferson's role within the Revolution. Most of the talk led up to how he became the principle writer for both Virginia and the national revolution. The last 10-15 minutes looked at the role he played after July 1776. We did not, though, go deeply on the Declaration in this talk. We will do that deep dive in the presentation scheduled for July 11, 2026. #america250 #americanrevolution #history #thomasjefferson #usa #usa250
Thomas Jefferson, the Brilliant Confounding Thinker, Founder, Scoundrel
Part of the @WinterParkLibrary America250 Lecture series, we examine the crucial role of women within the American Revolution. Initially prepared by my friend and colleague, Dr. Heather Bryson, I ended up needing to deliver the content as she had to attend to her mother's illness. I took Heather's initial preparation, expanded it somewhat, particularly with the final three women examined: Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, and Abigail Adams. While Heather and I present information with a different tone and style, I believe I was able to at least come close to her vision of the material. #america250 #americanrevolution #history #philliswheatley #mercyotiswarren #abigailadams
Women of the American Revolution
As part of the @WinterParkLibrary "Past Meets Present" focus on America250, I explore the road to the Revolution. As we celebrate the semiquincentennial of the nation, spending the entire year of lectures focused on the year 1776, its worth our time to reflect on what exactly led to the explosion. In scholarly terms, there's a debate about when, exactly, the revolution began. Of course we celebrate July 4, 1776, but the revolution was really already going. The first battles had already taken place in the Boston area. So, for me, it is 1773 when the "Tea Party" happens that there is no longer any chance of stopping the revolution. Of course both of the Continental Congresses will happen in which efforts will take place to find some resolution. And there will be British leaders, including the Howe brothers in 1776, who will try to also find a path back from the split. Yet, after the Tea Party, the main leaders on both sides were completely past the line and reconciliation (rarely desired by the most strident American leaders) was not going to happen. Thus, in the lecture, while I was prepared to go through, at least, the First Continental Congress, you'll see that we end with the British response to the Tea Party. Later this year, I will be presenting on both Thomas Jefferson and on the writing of the Declaration of Independence. In those moments, we will spend more time on both Continental Congresses and other key moments happening throughout the colonies (circa 1774-1776).
The Road to American Revolution
As part of the @WinterParkLibrary "Past Meets Present" focus on America250, I examined the impact of John Adams. According to the witnesses of the time, Adams was the principle force toward the revolutionary break with England. He is arguably, along with George Washington, the central figure that we could not have lost. His role during the years of the revolution not only include the focus on moving towards independence, but also taking the leading role in theorizing on the best form of government for this new nation. Unfortunately, during the recording, the Library was having microphone issues that compromised the sound. Then worse, my own recording equipment had a malfunction during the session. Thus, this lecture video is augmented in its conclusion with about 10 minutes from a 2022 session also taught about John Adams (that session had a different overall theme). #johnadams #america250 #usa #usa250 #americanrevolution
John Adams – The Atlas of Independence
This is the conclusion of my examination of the "Road to World War 2," presented for the @WinterParkLibrary "Past Meets Present" series. I do provide a short recap of the prior session here at the start, but you can find the first video here: https://youtu.be/_j-XuPa8t-M We start, after recapping part 1, with how the Great Depression led to the cataclysmic events of the 1930s. As with part 1, we are examining the entire world's role in this, so time is spent incorporating events in Japan and the Pacific. I do not go to 1941's Pearl Harbor attack, but that topic has also been presented previously: https://youtu.be/9_9lUH29WIw I do discuss the attack on Poland in September 1939, but do not go beyond Fall of 1939 to consider any battles or tactics or military technology. I am particularly fascinated with the complicated geopolitics happening right up till the full dive into the war, such as Mussolini being one of the strongest voices to NOT invade Poland. #worldwar2 #ww2 #greatdepression #hitler #japan
Road to World War 2 pt2
In 2023, as part of that year's @WinterParkLibrary "Past Meets Present" series, I examined the "Road to World War 2," looking at the events of World War 1 and the 1920s that led to the rise of Mussolini and Hitler. My aim was that this would do more than give a cursory glance to pre-Hitler, which is what most "road to ww2" talks or shows do. At the same time, I was determined to discuss Japan's role and experience leading to the war breaking out in the Pacific region. All of the core nations, including the USA, were involved in these years of choice and decision, and each contributes to the tapestry that led into this seminal crisis within the 20th century. The events of the 1930s will be examined in a "part 2" presentation. I trying to adequately cover the entire series of events, especially including what was happening in Japan and the USA, was a big endeavor; in my other volunteer teaching program at a local Senior Adult community, we've spent 7 months examining WW2 with roughly 6-7 hours presenting the "road to the war." #worldwar2 #worldwar1 #mussolini #germany #hitler #greatdepression
Road to World War 2, part1
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