The Thirteen Colonies

by Louis B. Wright

If the origin of the colonial period was accidental, the ending was not. The representatives of the thirteen colonies who approved the Declaration of Independence in 1776 charted a collision course, aware of the obstacles in their path and the risks they were taking. The events that led to their decision took place over a period of nearly 300 years. Looking back, the wonder is that it culminated so quickly. For a century after its discovery, the New World was little more than a lode to be mined by adventurers seeking profits. It wasn't until the end of the sixteenth century that serious efforts were made to establish permanent colonies. Even then, the perils of the journey and threats of starvation inhibited settlement. But settlers gradually came, spurred, in part, by the fear of religious persecution, but above all, drawn by the hope of owning land. They were a mixed English Separatists from Leiden, French Huguenots, Dutch burghers, Mennonite peasants from the Rhine Valley, and a few gentleman Anglicans. But they shared a quality of toughness. Here is their story from award-winning historian Louis B. Wright.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Historical

526 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

Louis Booker Wright was an American author, educator and librarian. Wright was the director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, the author of numerous books about the American colonial period, and in 1928 he was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship.

Reviews

[Maryteresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I was lead to believe it would be like from the write up. I thought it would be a lot more interesting with little facts that we did not learn in school. Well they were there but the book was so dull and dry with all kinds of names and dates it was like reading your high school text book for American History class. I was disappointed.

[Lou Fillari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virtually everything was new information to me, possibly because I wasn't a fan of paying attention in history class, and events I'd heard of, I learned what (at least according to Mr. Wright and his various references) led to said catastrophes (or minor disturbances). That's good. I like pretending I'm learning.

The beginning was exciting, what with these crazy seamen departing from respective homelands with every intention of returning within five years. Except for the crazy seamen who died from malaria or disrupting tribal disputes. And the vikings aren't usually credited with discovering the western world because they just enjoyed the fishing and the timber. The rest could happily be left to western European naval powers.

The middle dragged because I can only read about failed colonization of foreign lands so many (read: three) times. It sure was exciting learning why there is two Carolinas, though.

Those latter parts, though, boy howdy. Rock on, united colonies. And Sam Adams was a dick. And Ben Franklin was a genius. And the indians need to lay off the rum before they lose all of their land making shitty trades with asshole colonists.

But it was fun learning (unknowingly for the second time) how we got to where we got to. Would recommend to anybody who retains information.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wright Has Done Right on Early American History

This book deserves a permanent shelf spot in any colonial American history buff's library. Within its thorough historical narrative, it is rich in information that can help researchers understand the foundations of American interests, values, perspectives, contradictions, issues and political dramas. My only regret is that the book lacks footnotes or an addendum to point to those insights. Without such, to the lay reader, the book risks becoming just another history book of chronological facts. As a follow up to this book, I recommend "Liberty!" by Thomas Fleming. Five stars, without reservation.

[Ray Siwinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Book Can Not Be Finished

In order to complete this book I am required to rate it with a 20 word minimum description. This is stupid.

[Karl Dennhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

No shortage of factual detail . I could have more on the early stages of the actual revolution.
It certainly explains the prevalence of racism and religion in the USA today.

[Nina Vandewater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and interesting

I've never enjoyed a history book as much as I enjoyed this one. I recently started to research my ancestors and since I discovered many were here beginning in the Colonial years, I decided to read this book that my husband had read. I learned so much and would recommend it to readers interested in the events leading to the Revolution and the social and cultural mores of this period. Fascinating and informative from the 1600s to the Eve of the Revolution!

[Michael Sakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history that I have forgotten.

This book is a consice history of the formation of
America. I am sure that I may have or at. Least should have learned of this in primary education, but for me that was over 50 years ago and this book was a great refresher of the history of early America.

[Douglas E. Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but needs to cites his sources.

Enjoyed immensely with lots of rich detail. Unfortunately no sources are cited in the Kindle version. A reference list/bibliography would be very helpful for researchers.

[Katherine Chapman]

Fascinating. I’m sure most of the information presented was never included in my history classes.
I never realized how much action the frontier was involved in

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colonial Deep Dive

A well crafted, well written book taking the reader from the earliest European efforts to colonize the New World right up to the beginnings of the American Revolution. It provides the reader interested in colonial/ revolutionary periods in American history much greater detail on the activities of the colonists during the 200 years prior to the Revolution.

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book covering the pre-history of the United States. The book provides the historic background that led to the European age of exploration, and then after covering this period starts to focus on the activities located in the currents USA. While reading the book, I couldn’t help wish that the school books I was forced to read on this topic were as interesting. In many ways, it did feel as if this book was an easy reading history text for a US based history course. If anything, it made me miss those history classes so long ago, as I really enjoyed most the book. It was only the penultimate chapter (12) that I found boring. This chapter focused on the social progress (I always hated social studies in school) and made a big deal about listing the historic families and how they had acquired their wealth. The rest of the book was more of an adventure story, talking about discovery, battles and politics.

[Stuart Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and concise a good summary.

The book was fairly well-written concise a good history of the pre-revolution colonial society that shows the interconnectedness of the colonies as they were being founded. It also manages to cover the French and Indian war and a very concise and clear manner that steered clear of privilege details . If you want a good bare-bones history of pre-revolution colonial society this is a good book.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely detailed history of North America from the arrival of colonialists in South America to the eve of war with Britain. A little bit of a slog at times - occasionally I felt like the author wanted to mention every person to have lived in the colonies - but a lot of interesting detail I did not know. Not sure I would recommend other than to history buffs.

[Melinda Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of how the colonies were founded and by whom. I learned a lot I didn't know. My only complaint is that the book bogged down with too much detail of military conflicts. Though those were important, I wish there had been more social and cultural history. Very worth reading.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but most of it was stuff that I'd read before.

[Chuck Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good telling of the history of America before independence...

Solid narrative of the history of colonial America. At times, the book seems a bit bogged down in detail, but overall a nice overview leading up to the Revolution.